One should have wit, but not wish to have it; otherwise there will be witticism, the Alexandrian style of wit.

Irony is a clear consciousness of an eternal agility, of the infinitely abundant chaos.

Versatility of education can be found in our best poetry, but the depth of mankind should be found in the philosopher.

Aphorisms are the true form of the universal philosophy.

Nothing truly convincing - which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill - has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their poetry.

Strictly speaking, the idea of a scientific poem is probably as nonsensical as that of a poetic science.

Novels are the Socratic dialogues of our time. Practical wisdom fled from school wisdom into this liberal form.

Wit as an instrument of revenge is as infamous as art is as a means of sensual titillation.

The main thing is to know something and to say it.

When reason and unreason come into contact, an electrical shock occurs. This is called polemics.

A priest is he who lives solely in the realm of the invisible, for whom all that is visible has only the truth of an allegory.

Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the back yard and shot it.

Sometimes I like her calm, unwild, gentle as a sleeping child, and wonder as she lies, a fur ring, curled upon my lap, unstirring -- is it me or Tibbles purring?

Arrogance makes you stronger from outside, but even more weaker from inside.

That strange blend of the commercial traveller the missionary and the barbarian conqueror which was the American abroad.

The true writer must write not the acceptable but the true.

Showing gratitude for the good things you have is the most powerful happiness boosting activity there is.

I don't have very eclectic tastes in music.

Sometimes when you're overwhelmed by a situation - when you're in the darkest of darkness - that's when your priorities are reordered.

When we find ourselves wondering about the meaning of conditions and events, its always useful to ask, who profits?

Necessity may well be called the mother of invention but calamity is the test of integrity.