George Bernard Shaw

Revolutions have never lightened the burden of tyranny: they have only shifted it to another shoulder.

Hatred is the coward’s revenge for being intimidated.

I dread success. To have succeeded is to have finished one’s business on earth, like the male spider, who is killed by the female the moment he has succeeded in his courtship. I like a state of continual becoming, with a goal in front and not behind.

There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.

Don’t order any black things. Rejoice in his memory; and be radiant: leave grief to the children. Wear violet and purple. Be patient with the poor people who will snivel: they don’t know; and they think they will live for ever, which makes death a division instead of a bond.

All professions are conspiracies against the laity.

Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you.

Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.

It is easy to say how we love new friends, and what we think of them, but words can never trace out all the fibers that knit us to the old.

If you lose money you lose much, If you lose friends you lose more, If you lose faith you lose all.

There is also this benefit in brag, that the speaker is unconsciously expressing his own ideal. Humor him by all means, draw it all out, and hold him to it.

A man’s library is a sort of harem.

Logic is a poor guide compared with custom.

Obviously, as you grow up, no one’s ever 100 percent proud of every decision that they’ve made, and that’s OK. I think as long as you learn from your mistakes and don’t make them over and over again, you’re on the right path.

Many might go to Heaven with half the labor they go to hell.

Oh man! There is no planet sun or star could hold you, if you but knew what you are.

One wanders to the left, another to the right. Both are equally in error, but, are seduced by different delusions.

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.

I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.

Writers are the engineers of human souls.

The adventitious beauty of poetry may be felt in the greater delight with a verse given in a happy quotation than in the poem.