There is no great harm in the theorist who makes up a new theory to fit a new event. But the theorist who starts with a false theory and then sees everything as making it come true is the most dangerous enemy of human reason.

In all legends men have thought of women as sublime separately but horrible in a herd.

I suppose every one must have reflected how primeval and how poetical are the things that one carries in one's pocket; the pocket-knife, for instance, the type of all human tools, the infant of the sword. Once I planned to write a book of poems entirely about things in my pockets. But I found it would be too long; and the age of the great epics is past.

There'd be a lot less scandal if people didn't idealize sin and pose as sinners.

If it's worth doing, it's worth doing badly. (on not perfectionism to put things off) .

There are no wise few. Every aristocracy that has ever existed has behaved, in all essential points, exactly like a small mob.

The cross cannot be defeated for it is defeat.