Samuel Butler

People in general are equally horrified at hearing the Christian religion doubted, and at seeing it practiced.

The best liar is he who makes the smallest amount of lying go the longest way.

For Wealth are all things that conduce, to one’s destruction or their use. A standard both to buy and sell, all things from heaven down to hell.

From a worldly point of view, there is no mistake so great as that of being always right.

Loyalty is still the same, whether it win or lose the game; true as a dial to the sun, although it be not shined upon.

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

It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them.

Many a man’s strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.

One may make their house a palace of sham, or they can make it a home, a refuge.

The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others

To be in time is to be asleep: to be awake is to be in eternity.

One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.

It’s not whether you get knocked down, its whether you get back up.

It were better to be of no church, than to be bitter for any.

The reward of a thing well done is having done it.

Our houses are such unwieldy property that we are often imprisoned rather than housed by them.

Being is the great explainer.

Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords: but, like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed, the excesses of hope must be expiated by pain; and expectations improperly indulged, must end in disappointment. If it be asked, what is the improper expectation which it is dangerous to indulge, experience will quickly answer, that it is such expectation as is dictated not by reason, but by desire; expectation raised, not by the common occurrences of life, but by the wants of the expectant; an expectation that requires the common course of things to be changed, and the general rules of action to be broken.

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

The lofty pine is oftenest shaken by the winds; High towers fall with a heavier crash; And the lightning strikes the highest mountain.

The greatest glory in living lies in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.