Whenever a copyright law is to be made or altered, then the idiots assemble.

It is curious and interesting to notice what an attraction a fussy, mincing, nickel-plated word has for you.

We may not pay Satan reverence, for that would be indiscreet, but we can at least respect his talents.

I have witnessed and greatly enjoyed the first act of everything which Wagner created, but the effect on me has always been so powerful that one act was quite sufficient; whenever I have witnessed two acts I have gone away physically exhausted; and whenever I have ventured an entire opera the result has been the next thing to suicide.

It was a place of sin, loose women, whiskey and gambling. It was no place for a good Presbyterian, and I did not long remain one.

Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.

If you invent two or three people and turn them loose in your manuscript, something is bound to happen to them -- you can't help it; and then it will take you the rest of the book to get them out of the natural consequences of that occurrence, and so first thing you know, there's your book all finished up and never cost you an idea.