George Bernard Shaw

Men are not governed by justice, but by law or persuasion. When they refuse to be governed by law or persuasion, they have to be governed by force or fraud, or both.

Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy.

Reminiscences make one feel so deliciously aged and sad.

You cannot have power for good without having power for evil too. Even mother’s milk nourishes murderers as well as heroes.

What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.

Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.

Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else.

Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover.

Responsibilities are given to him on whom trust rests. Responsibility is always a sign of trust.

Paradise was made for tender hearts; hell, for loveless hearts.

Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice: Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valor, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be.

When any real progress is made, we unlearn and learn anew what we thought we knew before.

If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself.

Most people want to avoid pain, and discipline is usually painful.

Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.

None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.

My dear friend, clear your mind of cant [excessive thought]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, Sir, I am your most humble servant. You are not his most humble servant. You may say, These are bad times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times. You don’t mind the times … You may talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in Society; but don’t think foolishly.

Very learned women are to be found, in the same manner as female warriors; but they are seldom or ever inventors.

Don’t seek, don’t search, don’t ask, don’t knock, don’t demand — relax!

Never marry but for love; but see that thou lovest what is lovely.