People in high life are hardened to the wants and distresses of mankind as surgeons are to their bodily pains.

The world will very soon be divided, unless I am mistaken, into those who still go on explaining our success, and those somewhat more intelligent who are trying to explain our failure.

A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.

Poets do not go mad, but chess players do.

But we are the people of England; and we have not spoken yet. Smile at us, pay us, pass us. But do not quite forget.

A really great person is the person who makes every person feel great.

In the modern conflict between the Smile and the Laugh, I am all in favor of laughing. The recent stage of culture and criticism might very well be summed up as the men who smile criticizing the men who laugh.