I am willing to allow that smoking is a moral weakness, but on the other hand, we must beware of the man without weaknesses. He is not to be trusted. He is apt to be always sober and he cannot make a single mistake. His habits are likely to be regular, his existence more mechanical and his head always maintains its supremacy over his heart. Much as I like reasonable persons, I hate completely rational beings.

The three great American vices seem to be efficiency, punctuality, and the desire for achievement and success. They are the things that make the Americans so unhappy and so nervous.

There are no books in this world that everybody must read, but only books that a person must read at a certain time in a given place under given circumstances and at a given period of his life.

Those who are wise won't be busy, and those who are too busy can't be wise.

There is no proper time and place for reading. When the mood for reading comes, one can read anywhere

There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.

Happiness for me is largely a matter of digestion.