There is not an acre of ground on the globe that is in possession of its rightful owner, or that has not been taken away from owner after owner, cycle afer cycle, by force and bloodshed.

Few of us stand prosperity; another man's I mean.

Wherein lies a poet's claim to originality? That he invents his incidents? No. That he was present when his episodes had their birth? No. That he was first to repeat them? No. None of these things has any value. He confers on them their only originality that has any value, and that is his way of telling them.

We all know about the habits of the ant, we know all about the habits of the bee, but we know nothing at all about the habits of the oyster. It seems almost certain that we have been choosing the wrong time for studying the oyster.

Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered - either by themselves or by others.

A woman springs a sudden reproach upon you which provokes a hot retort, and then she will presently ask you to apologize.

If you tell the truth you do not need a good memory!