Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess.

Cucumber should be well sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out.

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.

Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.

When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world.

A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a single stone at an object, takes up a handful and throws at it in hopes he may hit.

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, but because obligation is a pain.

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.

Health is not a commodity to be bargained for. It has to be earned through sweat.

I can't stand being in Chicago anymore and hearing the Brahms Violin Concerto in the elevator. Because that shows me that when they come to the concert hall they listen to it in the same way.

Nothing brings you together like a common enemy.

The end and aim of all education is the development of character.

It is the accumulative weight of our disciplines and our judgments that leads us to either fortune or failure.

There's a lot of cultural pressure around specialness and seeing your family. I feel like everything gets jacked up a little bit because of all of these expectations of love and family bonding.

Everybody needs some inspiration, Everybody needs some motivation, mix it up with some imagination, and use your natural gifts.

I get stage fright with short stories. For me it feels like standup comedy: kill or die. I'm more confident when I begin a novel because I know I have space to fail.

Yes it is better to keep training even if your muscle is still sore.

So who was she? (Vane) Why do you assume it was a female? (Fang) Didn’t know you were fond of men. I’ll file that under my special Fang folder. (Vane)