Make him laugh and he will think you a trivial fellow, but bore him in the right way and your reputation is assured.

It is dangerous to let the public behind the scenes. They are easily disillusioned and then they are angry with you, for it was the illusion they loved.

If nobody spoke unless he had something to say, the human race would very soon lose the use of speech.

Failure make people bitter and cruel. Success improves the character of the man.

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.

When you're eighteen your emotions are violent, but they're not durable.

Everyone had some defect, or body or of mind: he thought of all the people he had known (the whole world was like a sick house and there was no rhyme or reason in it), he saw a long procession, deformed in body, warped in mind, some with illness of the flesh, weak hearts or weak lungs, and some with illness of the spirit, languor of will, or craving for liquor. At that moment he felt a holy compassion for them all. …The words of the dying God crossed his memory: Forgive them, for they know not what they do.