Boys like romantic [fairy] tales; but babies like realistic tales - because they find them romantic...This proves that even nursery tales only echo an almost prenatal leap of interest and amazement. These tales say that apples were golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found that they were green. They make rivers run with wine only to make us remember, for one wild moment, that they run with water.

There is something to be said for every error; but, whatever may be said for it, the most important thing to be said about it is that it is erroneous.

Christianity even when watered down is hot enough to boil all modern society to rags.

I agree with the realistic Irishman who said he preferred to prophesy after the event.

The objection to fairy stories is that they tell children there are dragons. But children have always known there are dragons. Fairy stories tell children that dragons can be killed.

We all feel the riddle of the earth without anyone to point it out. The mystery of life is the plainest part of it. The clouds and curtains of darkness, the confounding vapors, these are the daily weather of this world.

If a man does not talk to himself, it is because he is not worth talking to.