Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.

Arguments are to be avoided: they are always vulgar and often convincing.

More than half of modern culture depends upon what one shouldn't read.

When a golden girl can win Prayer from out the lips of sin, When the barren almond bears, And a little child gives away its tears, Then shall all the house be still And peace come to Canterville.

I played with an idea, and grew willful; tossed it into the air; transformed it; let it escape and recaptured it; made it iridescent with fancy, and winged it with paradox.

There is a fatality about good resolutions – that they are always made too late

The basis of optimism is sheer terror.