There is this to be said in favor of drinking, that it takes the drunkard first out of society, then out of the world.

General ideas are essences. They are our gods: they round and ennoble the most partial and sordid way of living.

We love flattery, even though we are not deceived by it, because it shows that we are of importance enough to be courted.

Life is our dictionary.

The key to every man is his thought.

All life is an experiment. Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom which animates all whom it floats, and you are without effort impelled to truth, to right and a perfect contentment. I wish to write such rhymes as shall not suggest a restraint, but contrariwise the wildest freedom. Immortality. I notice that as soon as writers broach this question they begin to quote. I hate quotation. Tell me what you know.

Life is not measured by its length, but by its depth.