George Bernard Shaw

The American Constitution, one of the few modern political documents drawn up by men who were forced by the sternest circumstances to think out what they really had to face, instead of chopping logic in a university classroom.

It is difficult, if not impossible, for most people to think otherwise than in the fashion of their own period.

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.

In heaven an angel is no one in particular.

Science becomes dangerous only when it imagines that it has reached its goal.

Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people.

There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.

From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.

Cruelty would be delicious if one could only find some sort of cruelty that didn’t really hurt.

It generally happens that assurance keeps an even pace with ability.

As soon as beauty is sought not from religion and love, but for pleasure, it degrades the seeker.

A am a great friend of public amusements, they keep people from vice.

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.

When the water of a place is bad it is safest to drink none that has not been filtered through either the berry of a grape, or else a tub of malt. These are the most reliable filters yet invented.

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.

The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others

It is a happy talent to know how to play.

I wish for you the wisdom to realize that forgiveness has nothing to do with an apology.

A broad margin of leisure is as beautiful in a man’s life as in a book. Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping. Keep the time, observe the hours of the universe, not of the cars.

Martyrdom covers a multitude of sins.

The self divides into ten billion distinct illuminating spirits. Distinguish these without falling into names and classifications.