[History is] the story of the magnificent rear-guard action fought during several thousand years by dogma against curiosity.

Knowledge is power only if man knows what facts not to bother with.

Every man of genius is considerably helped by being dead.

Cut quarrels out of literature, and you will have very little history or drama or fiction or epic poetry left.

Most of us can remember a time when a birthday - especially if it was one's own - brightened the world as if a second sun has risen.

Most of us believe in trying to make other people happy only if they can be happy in ways which we approve.

Any of us can achieve virtue, if by virtue we merely mean the avoidance of the vices that do not attract us.