The true and lasting genius of humour does not drag you thus to boxes labelled 'pathos,' 'humour,' and show you all the mechanism of the inimitable puppets that are going to perform. How I used to laugh at Simon Tapperwit, and the Wellers, and a host more! But I can't do it now somehow; and time, it seems to me, is the true test of humour. It must be antiseptic.

Men think they think upon the great political questions, and they do; but they think with their party, not independently; they read its literature, but not that of the other side

A person that started in to carry a cat home by the tail was gitting knowledge that was always going to be useful to him, and warn't ever going to grow dim or doubtful.

For all the talk you hear about knowledge being such a wonderful thing, instinct is worth forty of it for real unerringness.

Better a broken promise than none at all.

I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.

Tell me about a person's family, friends, and community, and I'll tell you what his opinions are.