paul f davis Quotes


Life is one long process of getting tired. Samuel Butler Life 375
A blind man knows he cannot see, and is glad to be led, though it be by a dog; but he that is blind in his understanding, which is the worst blindness of all, believes he sees as the best, and scorns a guide. Samuel Butler Understanding 278
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing. Samuel Butler Knowledge 255
Self-preservation is the first law of nature. Samuel Butler Nature 197
The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat, or takes in its milk, on the principle that it is cheaper to do this than to keep a cow. So it is, but the milk is more likely to be watered. Samuel Butler Opinion 176
Union may be strength, but it is mere blind brute strength unless wisely directed. Samuel Butler Community 158
Oaths are but words, and words are but wind. Samuel Butler Oaths 147
A man should be just cultured enough to be able to look with suspicion upon culture at first, not second hand. Samuel Butler Culture 141
Compound for sins they are inclined to by damning those they have no mind to. Samuel Butler Morals 140
The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance. Samuel Butler Ignorance 130
Logic is like the sword Samuel Butler Logic 127
Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him. Samuel Butler Argument 125
A degenerate nobleman, or one that is proud of his birth, is like a turnip: there is nothing good of him but that which is underground. Samuel Butler Nobility 124
A skilful leech is better far, than half a hundred men of war. Samuel Butler Men 122
Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises. Samuel Butler Life 120
No mistake is more common and more fatuous than appealing to logic in cases which are beyond her jurisdiction. Samuel Butler Appealing 115
There is but one step from the Academy to the Fad. Samuel Butler Education 115
Young as he was, his instinct told him that the best liar is he who makes the smallest amount of lying go the longest way – who husbands it too carefully to waste it where it can be dispensed with. Samuel Butler Uncategorized 109
Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself. Samuel Butler Fear 105
Conscience is thoroughly well-bred and soon leaves off talking to those who do not wish to hear it. Samuel Butler Conscience 103
He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still. Samuel Butler Agreement 102
Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only. Samuel Butler Appearance 96
We pay a person the compliment of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to them. Samuel Butler Lies 96
There is no true gracefulness which is not epitomized goodness. Samuel Butler Uncategorized 93
Christ: I dislike him very much. Still, I can stand him. What I cannot stand is the wretched band of people whose profession is to hoodwink us about him. Samuel Butler Band 93
Christ and The Church: If he were to apply for a divorce on the grounds of cruelty, adultery and desertion, he would probably get one. Samuel Butler Adultery 92
A friend who cannot at a pinch remember a thing or two that never happened is as bad as one who does not know how to forget. Samuel Butler Memory 92
The most important service rendered by the press is that of educating people to approach printed matter with distrust. Samuel Butler Media 91
He that complies against his will, is of his own opinion still. Samuel Butler Opinions 90
We have all sinned and come short of the glory of making ourselves as comfortable as we easily might have done. Samuel Butler Happiness 90
Christ was only crucified once and for a few hours. Think of the hundreds of thousands whom Christ has been crucifying in a quiet way ever since. Samuel Butler Christ 90
A man first quarrels with his father about three-quarters of a year before he is born. Samuel Butler Family 90
If the headache would only precede the intoxication, alcoholism would be a virtue. Samuel Butler Alcohol 89
Silence is not always tact, but it is tact that is golden, not silence. Samuel Butler Tact 89
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all. Samuel Butler Love 88
If life must not be taken too seriously, then so neither must death. Samuel Butler Sincerity 88
Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances. Samuel Butler Uncategorized 88
The foundations of morality are like all other foundations: If you dig too much about them the superstructure will come tumbling down. Samuel Butler Morals 88
The best liar is he who makes the smallest amount of lying go the longest way. Samuel Butler Lies 87
Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man. Samuel Butler Life 87
To do great work a man must be very idle as well as very industrious. Samuel Butler Greatness 87
Lying has a kind of respect and reverence with it. We pay a person the compliment of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to him. Samuel Butler DeceptionLying 86
Neither irony or sarcasm is argument. Samuel Butler Argument 86
People are always good company when they are doing what they really enjoy. Samuel Butler Happiness 85
The history of art is the history of revivals. Samuel Butler Art 85
Autumn is the mellower season and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits. Samuel Butler Nature 85
Everyone should keep a mental wastepaper basket, and the older he grows, the more things will he promptly consign to it. Samuel Butler Excess 84
Poetry resembles metaphysics one does not mind ones own but one does not like anyone elses. Samuel Butler Metaphysics 84
One of the first businesses of a sensible man is to know when he is beaten, and to leave off fighting at once. Samuel Butler Loss 84
There are more fools than knaves in the world, else the knaves would not have enough to live upon. Samuel Butler Fools 83

Showing 1 to 50 of 244 entries

Previous1 2 3 4 5Next

paul f davis Quotes

Search Result