What provokes your risibility, Sir? Have I said anything that you understand? Then I ask pardon of the rest of the company.

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.

It is easy to get faith into our heads. It is hard to get faith into our bloodstream.

The situation is one something like living with your wife. Sometimes it is difficult and even irritating to live with her but it is always impossible to live without her.

If you treat people like adults they will act like adults, but if you treat them like children they will act like children.

Only once have I taken on a role where I felt that I didn't quite understand her, but I said yes anyway. I don't think I'll ever do that again.

We have undocumented immigrants in America who are paying more federal income tax than a billionaire. I find that just astonishing.

Coffee falls into the stomach... ideas begin to move, things remembered arrive at full gallop... the shafts of wit start up like sharp-shooters, similes arise, the paper is covered with ink...

Survivors told me that sleep was a great escape from the nightmare that was Jonestown. I also longed for bedtime each night at Escuela Caribe; sleep allowed me to forget where I was for a few hours.

All I'd have to do then was roll with the consequences of inviting dewinged, fanged fairies into Trent's backyard. God, they were savage looking. Served him right.

I used to play guitar for myself and write lyrics and listen to different styles of music.

It starts with a single sound. If there's something in that sound, then it's worth continuing.