When compiling his great dictionary, the young Noah Webster travels to the Himalayas, where he climbs to the cave of the world's wises man. 'O, great sage,' he says, 'tell me the meaning of life.' The sage sits Noah at his feet and, with great solemnity, commences to unfold the meaning of life. When finished, he places a hand on the young man's shoulder and says, 'Do you have any other questions, my son?' Noah flips a page in his notebook and says, 'You wouldn't know the meaning of lift, would you?'

An old dog, even more than an old spouse, always feels like doing what you feel like doing.

Without faith there is no truth, for that is all the truth is or ever was.

If you can't explain something in a few words, try fewer.

Alas, by the time Fate caught up with my life, Chance had it all planned.

Be the master of your fate, be the captain of your soul, but do not hesitate, should the chance befall you, to be the slave of your heart.

To the student I would say, "Life is principally multiple choice, but at the end there's a tough essay question.