If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.

I don't mind plain women being puritans. It is the only excuse they have for being plain.

We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible.

The honest ratepayer and his healthy family have no doubt often mocked at the dome-like forehead of the philosopher, and laughed over the strange perspective of the landscape that lies beneath him. If they really knew who he was, they would tremble. For Chuang Tsǔ spent his life in preaching the great creed of Inaction, and in pointing out the uselessness of all things.

JACK Your duty as a gentleman calls you back. ALGERNON My duty as a gentleman has never interfered with my pleasures in the smallest degree.

This suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.