Samuel Butler

The history of art is the history of revivals.

Then spare the rod and spoil the child.

For every why he had a wherefore.

Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete a character.

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.

A physician’s physiology has much the same relation to his power of healing as a cleric’s divinity has to his power of influencing conduct.

If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. Men will believe what they see.

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

Think ahead. Don’t let day-to-day operations drive out planning.

Talk about slavery! It is not the peculiar institution of the South. It exists wherever men are bought and sold, wherever a man allows himself to be made a mere thing or a tool, and surrenders his inalienable rights of reason and conscience. Indeed, this slavery is more complete than that which enslaves the body alone… I never yet met with, or heard of, a judge who was not a slave of this kind, and so the finest and most unfailing weapon of injustice. He fetches a slightly higher price than the black men only because he is a more valuable slave.

He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father’s wisdom than he who has a great deal left him does to his father’s care.

True, there are architects so called in this country, and I have heard of one at least possessed with the idea of making architectural ornaments have a core of truth, a necessity, and hence a beauty, as if it were a revelation to him. All very well perhaps from his point of view, but only a little better than the common dilettantism.

Undeservedly you will atone for the sins of your fathers.

The best effort of a fine person is felt after we have left their presence.

Beware of the man who does not return your blow: he neither forgives you nor allows you to forgive yourself.

All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.

Envy is the tax which all distinction must pay.

People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.