They said that I should lose my ideals and begin to believe in the methods of practical politicians. Now, I have not lost my ideals in the least; my faith in fundamentals is exactly what it always was. What I have lost is my childlike faith in practical politics.

A large section of the intelligentsia seems wholly devoid of intelligence.

Gratitude, being nearly the greatest of human duties, is also nearly the most difficult.

The things we see every day are the things we never see at all.

Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Never drink because you need it, for this is rational drinking, and the way to death and hell. But drink because you do not need it, for this is irrational drinking, and the ancient health of the world.

A society is in decay, final or transitional, when common sense really becomes uncommon.

The people has no definite disbelief in the temples of theology. The people has a very fiery and practical disbelief in the temples of physical science.