Samuel Butler

The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them.

When the water of a place is bad it is safest to drink none that has not been filtered through either the berry of a grape, or else a tub of malt. These are the most reliable filters yet invented.

If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.

A sense of humor keen enough to show a man his own absurdities will keep him from the commission of all sins, or nearly all, save those worth committing.

Life is one long process of getting tired.

Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.

No compliment can be eloquent, except as an expression of indifference.

We should always have three friends in our lives-one who walks ahead who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach back for and bring along after we’ve cleared the way.

The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it.

I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere.

Nothing’s beautiful from every point of view.

True irreverence is disrespect for another man’s god.

The world is seldom what it seems; to man, who dimly sees, realities appear as dreams, and dreams realities.

Whether the flower looks better in the nosegay than in the meadow where it grew and we had to wet our feet to get it! Is the scholastic air any advantage?

I am the flame, electric blue, lightening, razor-like, renewing my spirit. Heart beating in time to the earth’s rhythm and expanse of black ink sky, overreaching eternal. My fingertips spark with seeds of creation, fireworks coloring canvas, beckoned by this light that lifts me.

It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general state of equality.

A man’s ignorance sometimes is not only useful, but beautiful-while his knowledge, so called, is oftentimes worse than useless, besides being ugly.

A good conscience is a continual feast.

Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet.

An honest man is always a child.