The mind which renounces, once and for ever, a futile hope, has its compensation in ever-growing calm.

Time is money says the proverb, but turn it around and you get a precious truth. Money is time.

For the man sound of body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously.

That is one of the bitter curses of poverty; it leaves no right to be generous.

For one thing, I know every book of mine by its scent.

I hate with a bitter hatred the names of lentils haricots - those pretentious cheats of the appetite, those tabulated humbugs, those certified aridites calling themselves human food!

Life is a huge farce, and the advantage of possessing a sense of humour is that it enables one to defy fate with mocking laughter.

I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things.

Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?

Parks are but pavement disguised with a growth of grass.

Flippancy, the most hopeless form of intellectual vice.

Turn your obstacles into opportunities and your problems into possibilities.

Set your desires in motion by connecting to the heart conscious.

Anyone who tries to put fear in a heart, has lost their heart to fear.

Both slaves had been oiled until their flesh shined like polished ebony, outlining every detail of their muscles.

The mosquito is the state bird of New Jersey.

Anyone whose lifestyle may frighten you or whose point of view makes smoke come out of your ears.

The best response to bad religion is better religion, not secularism.

I basically started playing violin at the age of six. That lasted about three years because my previous teacher died and the second teacher didn't really know how to successfully get me going.

The 20th century peatlands ditching in Finland was the worst human environmental destruction action in Europe.

I've never felt like there's just one way to be beautiful. Tall or short, straight hair or curly, it doesn't matter.