Samuel Butler

Oaths are but words, and words are but wind.

The youth of an art is, like the youth of anything else, its most interesting period. When it has come to the knowledge of good and evil it is stronger, but we care less about it.

Rare virtues are like rare plants or animals, things that have not been able to hold their own in the world. A virtue to be serviceable must, like gold, be alloyed with some commoner but more durable metal.

Christ was only crucified once and for a few hours. Think of the hundreds of thousands whom Christ has been crucifying in a quiet way ever since.

Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.

Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have.

There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.

Only trust theyself, and another shall noet betray thee

History is only the register of crimes and misfortunes.

Letters are like wine; if they are sound they ripen with keeping. A man should lay down letters as he does a cellar of wine.

As you get older, you realize that no one has all the answers. It turns out that life is an exercise in living with the certainty of uncertainty. – Jason Kilar

I respect not his labors, his farm where everything has its price, who would carry the landscape, who would carry his God, to market, if he could get anything for him; who goes to market for his god as it is; on whose farm nothing grows free, whose fields bear no crops, whose meadows no flowers, whose trees no fruits, but dollars.

If it matters, it will hurt like knives or wrap and lift you in the most immeasurable joy. Or both. One thing is certain, you will feel intensely alive.

If we live truly, we shall see truly.

A cynic can chill and dishearten with a single word.

Repose and cheerfulness are the badge of the gentleman – repose in energy.

Beauty is a short-lived tyranny.

No poems can please for long or live that are written by water drinkers.

If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform a million realities.