George Bernard Shaw

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.

The camera can represent flesh so superbly that, if I dared, I would never photograph a figure without asking that figure to take its clothes off.

The first condition of progress is the removal of censorship.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.

We must always think about things, and we must think about things as they are, not as they are said to be.

Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get.

The late M. Venizelos observed that in all her wars Englandhe should have said Britain, of coursealways wins one battlethe last.

He is useless on top of the ground; he ought to be under it, inspiring the cabbages.

Poverty is often concealed in splendor, and often in extravagance. It is the task of many people to conceal their neediness from others. Consequently they support themselves by temporary means, and everyday is lost in contriving for tomorrow.

Do not tell me of my obligation to put all poor men in good situations. Are they my poor? I tell thee, thou foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent, I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong.

Glances of true beauty can be seen in the faces of those who live in true meekness.

Why level downward to our dullest perception always, and praise that as common sense? The commonest sense is the sense of men asleep, which they express by snoring.

From his cradle to his grave a man never does a single thing which has any FIRST AND FOREMOST object but one – to secure peace of mind, spiritual comfort, for HIMSELF.

The soul of God is poured into the world through the thoughts of men.

The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties are in their place when there is nothing more solid to say; but the flowery style ought to be banished from a pleading, a sermon, or a didactic work.

Whenever you wish to do anything against the law, Cicely, always consult a good solicitor first.

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

Traveling is a fool’s paradise. Our first journeys discover to us the indifference of places.

Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Moms. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own.

Named must your fear be before banish it you can.

There are minds so impatient of inferiority that their gratitude is a species of revenge, and they return benefits not because recompense is a pleasure for them, but because obligation is a pain.