And I will add this point of merely personal experience of humanity: when men have a real explanation they explain it, eagerly and copiously and in common speech, as Huxley freely gave it when he thought he had it. When they have no explanation to offer, they give short dignified replies, disdainful of the ignorance of the multitude.

The strangest whim has seized me ... After all I think I will not hang myself today.

The full value of this life can only be got by fighting; the violent take it by storm. And if we have accepted everything we have missed something - war. This life of ours is a very enjoyable fight, but a very miserable truce.

How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win.

When it wishes anything done which is really serious, it collects twelve of the ordinary men standing round. The same thing was done, if I remember right, by the Founder of Christianity.

When once you have got hold of a vulgar joke, you may be certain that you have got hold of a subtle and spiritual idea.

Literature is a luxury; fiction is a necessity.