Nobody likes to be accused of a virtue.

if you cannot get what you want, common sense suggests that you should put your mind to wanting what you can get.

The fact is, people who don't have any misfortunes are very irritating to their neighbours. No opportunities for popping in with condolences and new-laid eggs. No visits to the afflicted. No opportunities for the milk of human kindness to flow. Naturally it doesn't.

There's a general consensus of opinion that people in love are apt to look silly -- except to each other.

My dear father always said that when everybody had a telephone nobody would have any manners, because there wouldn't be time for them. And of course he was perfectly right.

it isn't good tactics to ask for something that you know will be refused.

Most of the things one worries about never happen.