It is impossible that a genius - at least a literary genius - can ever be discovered by his intimates; they are so close to him that he is out of focus to them and they can't get at his proportions; they can't perceive that there is any considerable difference between his bulk and their own.

I have never seen what to me seemed an atom of proof that there is a future life. And yet-I am inclined to expect one.

So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it but I couldnt find honest employment.

That is the way of the scientist. He will spend thirty years in building up a mountain range of facts with the intent to prove a certain theory; then he is so happy with his achievement that as a rule he overlooks the main chief fact of all-that all his accumulation proves an entirely different thing.

The [Kodak is] the only witness I have encountered in my long experience that I couldn't bribe.

I don't know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed, except the answer to prayer.

All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure.