Probably the difference between man and the monkeys is that the monkeys are merely bored, while man has boredom plus imagination.

The purpose of a short story is ... that the reader shall come away with the satisfactory feeling that a particular insight into human character has been gained, or that his (or her) knowledge of life has been deepened, or that pity, love or sympathy for a human being is awakened.

In the West, the insane are so many that they are put in an asylum, in China the insane are so unusual that we worship them.

A tendency to fly too straight at a goal, instead of circling around it, often carries one too far.

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

No child is born with a really cold heart, and it is only in proportion as we lose that youthful heart that we lose the inner warmth in ourselves.

The wise man reads both books and life itself.