Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

The criminal is the creative artist; the detective only the critic.

Odd, isn't it, that a thief and a vagabond should repent, when so many who are rich and secure remain hard and frivolous, and without fruit for God or man?

The old idea that the joke was not good enough for the company has been superseded by the new aristocratic idea that the company was not worthy of the joke. They have introduced an almost insane individualism into that one form of intercourse which is specially and uproariously communal. They have made even levities into secrets. They have made laughter lonelier than tears.

If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.

of being strong and brave. The strong can not be brave. Only the weak can be brave; and yet again, in practice, only those who can be brave can be trusted, in time of doubt, to be strong.

The Party System was founded on one national notion of fair play. It was the notion that folly and futility should be fairly divided between both sides.