Laugh not too much; the witty man laughs least: For wit is news only to ignorance. Lesse at thine own things laugh; lest in the jest Thy person share, and the conceit advance.

Choose an author as you choose a friend.

Agnosticism is the philosophical, ethical and religious dry-rot of the modern world.

When under the pretext of fraternity, the legal code imposes mutual sacrifices on the citizens, human nature is not thereby abrogated. Everyone will then direct his efforts toward contributing little to, and taking much from, the common fund of sacrifices. Now, is it the most unfortunate who gains from this struggle? Certainly not, but rather the most influential and calculating.

Oh, stay, sweet warbling woodlark, stay, Nor quit for me the trembling spray, A hapless lover courts thy lay, Thy soothing, fond complaining.

The Ass and the Old Shepherd A SHEPHERD, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal lazily replied, Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?' No, rejoined the Shepherd. Then, said the Ass, as long as I carry the panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?' In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name of their master.

Three things have been difficult to tame: the oceans, fools and women. We may soon be able to tame the oceans; fools and women will take a little longer.

Prosperity in the form of wealth works exactly the same as everything else. You will see it coming into your life when you are unattached to needing it.

A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you.

Those who do not read criticism will rarely merit to be criticised.

What makes life worth living is the mutual enrichment of people through understanding, intelligence and affection. It is just here that our awareness that Jesus is our contemporary and that Calvary is relevant to our present human situation ought to help us greatly. And that is not merely because in his relationships with others during his earthly life in Palestine Jesus exemplified all that I have tried to say about human relationships. In every genuine human encounter with another person we may become aware of Jesus, and meet with him. This may sound fanciful, but there is much in the Scriptures and in Christian experience which suggests that Jesus is frequently met in the traffic of person with person, provided that there is a genuine encounter between them. Jesus himself showed that for this to happen demands courage and a willingness to move from a life that is centred in itself. So if we are to pass out of that lonely world of isolation then we must be prepared to take the risks that are always involved when we allow persons to confront us as persons and do not regard them as things. Yet, dangerous though it may be to live in this way, it is the only way to live.

what goes around comes around.

I've never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them.

Faintly as tolls the evening chime, Our voices keep tune and our oars keep time, Soon as the woods on shore dim, We'll sing at St. Ann's our parting hymn; Row, brothers, row, the stream runs fast, The rapids are near and the daylight's past.

The groves were God's first temples.

Foot: A device for finding furniture in the dark.

Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.

What some invent the rest enlarge.

Last night I dreamed my life was done, and heaven's gates flung wide. And with kindly grace, an angel ushered me inside. And there stood those I'd shunned or judged unworthy or unclean. Indignant words rose to my lips, but never were set free, On every face showed stunned surprise: no one expected me.

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.