I have no liking for novels or stories - none in the world; and so, whenever I read one - which is not oftener than once in two years, and even in these same cases I seldom read beyond the middle of the book - my distaste for the vehicle always taints my judgment of the literature itself, as a matter of course; and also of course makes my verdict valuless. Are you saying "You have written stories yourself." Quite true: but the fact that an Indian likes to scalp people is no evidence that he likes to be scalped.

I am not an economist. I am an honest man!

The idea that no gentleman ever swears is all wrong. He can swear and still be a gentleman if he does it in a nice and benevolent and affectionate way.

It’s not the good that die young, it’s the lucky.

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.

You can't pray a lie -- I found that out.

There isn't any way to libel the human race.