Shakespeare, who never could think up a plot by himself, found this one [Macbeth] in Holinshed's Chronicles, changing it just enough so that no one would recognize the source. He didn't count on the resourcefulness of modern scholars, who have to discover things like this to become associate professors.

Some golfers blast their ball from traps, With one adroit explosion, But others, out in ten perhaps, Depend upon erosion.

I love a finished speaker, I really, truly do I don't mean one who's polished, I just mean one who's through.

There are very few humorists who have written first-rate humor after they've become elderly.

(Francis) Bacon's best known writings are his essays. They are loved for many reasons, such as their being so short.

In larger things we are convivial; what causes trouble is the trivial.

When it comes to eating, you can sometimes help yourself more by helping yourself less.