George Bernard Shaw

Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?

The man with a toothache thinks everyone happy whose teeth are sound. The poverty-stricken man makes the same mistake about the rich man.

He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.

The only way for a woman to provide for herself decently is for her to be good to some man that can afford to be good to her.

There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart’s desire. The other is to gain it.

What use are cartridges in battle? I always carry chocolate instead.

You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Try, try, try, and keep on trying is the rule that must be followed to become an expert in anything.

Refrain from asking what going to happen tomorrow, and everyday that fortune grants you, count as gain.

Necessity does everything well.

People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.

Better is the enemy of good.

As long as our civilization is essentially one of property, of fences, of exclusiveness, it will be mocked by delusions. Our riches will leave us sick; there will be bitterness in our laughter; and our wine will burn our mouth. Only that good profits, which we can taste with all doors open, and which serves all men.

Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.

There is no thought in any mind, but it quickly tends to convert itself into power.

We are ashamed of our thoughts and often see them brought forth by others.

Leave this hypocritical prating about the masses. Masses are rude, lame, unmade, pernicious in their demands and influence, and need not to be flattered, but to be schooled. I wish not to concede anything to them, but to tame, drill, divide, and break them up, and draw individuals out of them.

The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.

The problems of victory are more agreeable than those of defeat, but they are no less difficult.