George Bernard Shaw

Hatred is the coward’s revenge for being intimidated.

Why, except as a means of livelihood, a man should desire to act on the stage when he has the whole world to act in, is not clear to me.

The test of a man or woman’s breeding is how they behave in a quarrel.

The English have no respect for their language, and will not teach their children to speak it.

Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

You are all fundamentalists with a top dressing of science. That is why you are the stupidest of conservatives and reactionists in politics and the most bigoted of obstructionists in science itself. When it comes to getting a move on you are all of the same opinion: stop it, flog it, hang it, dynamite it, stamp it out.

She is but half a wife that is not, nor is capable of being, a friend.

Imagination is not a talent of some people but is the health of everyone.

Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.

Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.

There is in the act of preparing, the moment you start caring.

Life is tough, my darling, but so are you.

Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.

Religion is as effectually destroyed by bigotry as by indifference.

The first thing a great person does, is make us realize the insignificance of circumstance.

Between us, we cover all knowledge; he knows all that can be known and I know the rest.

I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in the world.

Who then is free? The wise man who can command himself.

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

Such as take lodgings in a head that’s to be let unfurnished.

Go anywhere in England where there are natural, wholesome, contented, and really nice English people; and what do you always find? That the stables are the real center of the household.