If books are not good company, where shall I find it?

Man is the only Patriot. He sets himself apart in his own country, under his own flag, and sneers at the other nations, and keeps multitudinous uniformed assassins on hand at heavy expense to grab slices of other people's countries, and keep them from grabbing slices of his. And in the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood off his hands and works for the universal brotherhood of man - with his mouth.

The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking. The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk.

Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.

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

That's the difference between governments and individuals. Governments don't care, individuals do.

The slowness of one section of the world about adopting the valuable ideas of another section of it is a curious thing and unaccountable.