Perhaps, on the whole, embarrassment and perplexity are a kind of natural accompaniment to life and movement; and it is better to be driven out of your senses with thinking which of two things you ought to do than to do nothing whatever, and be utterly uninteresting to all the world.

Imagination is the first faculty wanting in those that do harm to their kind.

One only says it is one's duty when one has something disagreeable to do.

Truly there is nothing in the world so blessed or so sweet as the heritage of children.

Many love me, but by none am I enough beloved.

A hotel is a hotel all the world over, a place essentially vulgar, commonplace, venal, the travesty of a human home.

... I have always been a disappointment to my friends. I have no gift of talk, not much to say; and though I have always been an excellent listener, that only succeeds under auspicious circumstances.