There are very few really brilliant men who have not had at least one madman among their ancestors.

We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity - romantic love and gunpowder.

Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.

The first recipe for happiness is: avoid too lengthy meditation on the past.

We can talk frankly about our defects only to those who recognise our qualities.

An artist must be a reactionary. He has to stand out against the tenor of the age and not go flopping along.

A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short.

A marriage without conflicts is almost as inconceivable as a nation without crises.

We appreciate frankness from those who like us. Frankness from others is called insolence.

Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.

A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.

It turns out to be the new Planet, which, a decade and a half later, will be known first as the Georgian, and then as Herschel, after its official Discoverer, and more lately as Uranus.

Doing something nice for myself is not selfish.

California is a fine place to live - if you happen to be an orange.

Once you've recognized your own limits, you've raised yourself to a higher level of being, since you're closer to the real you.

I've always been in music. I started out in music, and I will continue to do music.

I hope nobody took the Razzle Dazzle Rose.

We should consider the histories of Christ three manner of ways; first, as a history of acts or legends; second, as a gift or a present; thirdly, as an example, which we should believe and follow.

I will certainly not join politics. I would like to be remembered as a clean businessman who has not partaken in any twists and turns beneath the surface, and one who has been reasonably successful.

In my case, the body of work stands for itself... I think my work has been representative of me as a man.

I have lots of heroes: anyone and everyone who does whatever they can to leave the natural world better than they found it.