If we had less statemanship we could get along with fewer battleships.

Civilization largely consists in hiding human nature. When the barbarian learns to hide it we account him enlightened.

It is an important thing, in our never-ending pursuit of happiness, to stop and just be happy for a while.

Knowledge becomes wisdom only after it has been put to good use.

A man's house burns down. The smoking wreckage represents only a ruined home that was dear through years of use and pleasant associations. By and by, as the days and weeks go on, first he misses this, then that, then the other thing. And when he casts about for it he finds that it was in that house. Always it is an essential - here was but one of its kind. It cannot be replaced. It was in that house. It is irrevocably lost...It will be years before the tale of lost essentials is complete, and not till then can he truly know the magnitude of his disaster.

The southerner talks music.

A powerful agent is the right word: it lights the reader's way and makes it plain.