Lectures were once useful; but now when all can read, and books are so numerous, lectures are unnecessary.

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.

All I'd ever thought I wanted was to be left alone. Until I was.

I couldn't see anything beyond this. Beyond her. Beyond us. (Blaine)

When West End Girls came out on import, I was a student at Liverpool University. I'd go to a club in Liverpool and it would come on, and I'd be really embarrassed.

My scripts are always filled with notes. I like to just analyze everything from the point of view of the whole picture, of the movie, my whole picture.

I learned to ski at a young age and love it - but I don't get to do it as much as I'd like because of the risk of injuries.

You know that you are a teacher when you spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.

An intemperate, disorderly youth will bring to old age, a feeble and worn-out body.

If I'm going to be held captive by social media, I'm going to use it against itself.

I was never an actor. I had done one or two random projects in my advertising career.