Samuel Butler

If there is any moral in Christianity, if there is anything to be learned from it, if the whole story is not profitless from first to last, it comes to this: that a man should back his own opinion against the world s.

The healthy stomach is nothing if it is not conservative. Few radicals have good digestions.

Human life is as evanescent as the morning dew or a flash of lightning.

When the righteous man truth away from his righteousness that he hath committed and doeth that which is neither quite lawful nor quite right, he will generally be found to have gained in amiability what he has lost in holiness.

In matrimony, to hesitate is sometimes to be saved.

The three most important things a man has are, briefly, his private parts, his money, and his religious opinions.

Visit the Navy-Yard, and behold a marine, such a man as an American government can make, or such as it can make a man with its black arts – a mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and standing, and already, as one may say, buried under arms with funeral accompaniments.

It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.

We talk of choosing our friends, but friends are self-elected

We are always too busy for our children; we never give them the time or interest they deserve. We lavish gifts upon them; but the most precious gift, our personal association, which means so much to them, we give grudgingly.

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.

The rich mind lies in the sun and sleeps, and is Nature.

The search after the great men is the dream of youth, and the most serious occupation of manhood.

Enjoy yourself – it’s later than you think.

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.

I do not mind lying, but I hate inaccuracy.

Do not undervalue the headache. While it is at its sharpest it seems a bad investment; but when relief begins, the unexpired remainder is worth $4 a minute.

We are always paid for our suspicion by finding what we suspect.

Is the acorn better than the oak which is its fullness and completion?

I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the inertia and give elasticity to the muscles. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give it tension or relaxation; and surely it is possible to bring it into a state in which rising from bed will not be a pain.