The life of a thinking man will probably be divided into two parts -- the first in which he desires to exterminate modern thinkers, and the second in which he desires to watch them exterminating each other. ... Suppose, for instance, there is an old story and a new skeptic who is skeptical of the story. We have only to wait a little while for a yet newer skeptic who is skeptical of the skeptic. He will probably find the old notion actually a help in his new notion. This process is an abstract truth applying to anything, apart from agreement or disagreement.

Spring never is spring unless it comes too soon.

Human anger is a higher thing than what is called divine discontent. For you must be angry with something; but you can be discontented with everything.

Surprise is the secret of joy.

Thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because it is waste.

Your offer," he said, "is far too idiotic to be declined.

We are like the penny, because we have the image of the king stamped on us, the divine king.