It is only just that anything that grows up on its own should feel it has nothing to repay for an upbringing which it owes no one.

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

Money-makers are tiresome company, as they have no standard but cash value.

Physical excellence does not of itself produce a good mind and character: on the other hand, excellence of mind and character will make the best of the physique it is given.

Excess of liberty, whether it lies in state or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery.

Either we shall find what it is we are seeking or at least we shall free ourselves from the persuasion that we know what we do not know.

The philosopher whose dealings are with divine order himself acquires the characteristics of order and divinity.

If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things.

Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.

Those who don't know must learn from those who do.

Then we shan’t regard anyone as a lover of knowledge or wisdom who is fussy about what he studies…

When you fall in love, waves of joy fill your dreams and become your reality while your realities become your dreams.

Edinburgh is a comfortable puddle for a novelist.

Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want a fan club? You are right. I loved the movie, and you were perfect in it, you were absolutely amazing. Definitely Oscar material.

I had everything I'd hoped for, but I wasn't being myself. So I decided to be honest about who I was. It was strange: The people who loved me for being funny suddenly didn't like me for being... me.

I'm wishing this was something else I was writing, but, Pops, we've got to let you know we love you and know you'll always be with us.

The desire to be self-supporting and financially independent is a divine desire

Filmmaking is such a collaborative medium.

I never accepted a knighthood because to me, is honour enough?

And surely one of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid.

Don't try to fix the students, fix ourselves first. The good teacher makes the poor student good and the good student superior. When our students fail, we, as teachers, too, have failed.