There is a sort of man who pays no attention to his good actions, but is tormented by his bad ones. This is the type that most often writes about himself.

Great writers create; writers of smaller gifts copy

It must be that to govern a nation you need a specific talent and that this may very well exist without general ability.

I do not believe they are right who say that the defects of famous men should be ignored. I think it is better that we should know them. Then, though we are conscious of having faults as glaring as theirs, we can believe that that is no hindrance to our achieving also something of their virtues.

Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that thus he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment.

Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.

It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.