To be born into this earth is to be born into uncongenial surroundings, hence to be born into a romance.

humor can get in under the door while seriousness is still fumbling at the handle

The modern world is a crowd of very rapid racing cars all brought to a standstill and stuck in a block of traffic.

A crown of roses is also a crown of thorns.

Though the academic authorities are actually proud of conducting everything by means of Examinations, they seldom indulge in what religious people used to descibe as Self-Examination. The consequence is that the modern State has educated its citizens in a series of ephemeral fads.

Life is indeed terribly complicated—to a man who has lost his principles.

If we are bound to improve, we need not trouble to improve. The pure doctrine of progress is the best of all reasons for not being a progressive.