The best years are the forties; after fifty a man begins to deteriorate, but in the forties he is at the maximum of his villainy.

The dying man doesn't struggle much and he isn't much afraid. As his alkalies give out he succumbs to a blest stupidity. His mindfogs. His will power vanishes. He submits decently. He scarcely gives a damn.

If we assume that man actually does resemble God, then we are forced into the impossible theory that God is a coward, an idiot and a bounder.

Men always try to make virtues of their weaknesses. Fear of death and fear of life both become piety.

It is almost impossible for an Anglo-Saxon to write of sex without being dirty.

The average man's love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary, exactly like his love of sense, justice and truth... It takes a special sort of man to understand and enjoy liberty - and he is usually an outlaw in democratic societies.

There is something even more valuable to civilization than wisdom, and that is character.