O. Henry Quotes

The work of internal government has become the task of controlling the thousands of fifth-rate men.

Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly.

Scholars are wont to sell their birthright for a mess of learning.

I know of no redeeming qualities in myself but a sincere love for some things, and when I am reproved I fall back on to this ground.

The works of great poets have never been read by mankind, for only great poets can read them.

I was born upon thy bank, river, My blood flows in thy stream, And thou meanderest forever, At the bottom of my dream.

Every one who marries goes it blind, more or less.

We commonly do not remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking.

In most books, the I, of first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference.

I say, break the law.

The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.

I only desire sincere relations with the worthiest of my acquaintance, that they may give me an opportunity once in a year to speak the truth.

Wherever a man goes, men will pursue him and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society.

But government in which the majority rule in all cases can not be based on justice, even as far as men understand it.

The way by which you may get money almost without exception leads downward.

What can be expressed in words can be expressed in life.

If you would feel the full force of a tempest, take up your residence on the top of Mount Washington, or at the Highland Light, inTruro.

I know a good woman who thinks that her son lost his life because he took to drinking water only.

As all curves have reference to their centres or foci, so all beauty of character has reference to the soul, and is a graceful gesture of recognition or waving of the body toward it.

If we see nature as pausing, immediately all mortifies and decays; but seen as progressing, she is beautiful.

At death our friends and relatives either draw nearer to us and are found out, or depart farther from us and are forgotten. Friends are as often brought nearer together as separated by death.

The very thrills of genius are disorganizing. The body is never quite acclimated to its atmosphere, but how often, succumbs and goes into a decline.

I do not know at first what it is that harms me. The men and things of to-day are wont to be fairer and truer in to-morrow's memory.

The vessel, though her masts be firm,Beneath her copper bears a worm.

There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.

If one shed tears, they must be shed on one's pillow.

If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth

We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return - sending back our embalmed hearts only as relics to our desolate kingdoms.

Every walk is a sort of crusade, preached by some Peter the Hermit in us.

My eye is educated to discover anything on the ground, as chestnuts, etc. It is probably wholesomer to look at the ground much than at the heavens.

The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter

I cannot fish without falling a little in self-respect...always when I have done I feel it would have been better if I had not fished.

Only the traveling is good which reveals to me the value of home and enables me to enjoy it better.

How often we find ourselves turning our backs on our actual friends, that we might go and meet their ideal cousins.

The really efficient laborer will be found not to crowd his day with work, but will saunter to his task surrounded by a wide halo of ease and leisure.

We seem but to linger in manhood to tell the dreams of our childhood, and they vanish out of memory ere we learn the language.

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines.

As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.

We combat obstacles in order to get repose, and when got, the repose is insupportable.

Any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one already.

There is but one stage for the peasant and the actor.

Some are reputed sick and some are not. It often happens that the sicker man is the nurse to the sounder.

There is more of good nature than of good sense at the bottom of most marriages.

May we so love as never to have occasion to repent of our love!

How can any man be weak who dares to be at all?

Christ is the prince of Reformers and Radicals.

As much as I do love real-life stories they can often make you hurt in a way I'd rather not hurt. . . . For some reason, it's always the pain that gets you.

How does it become a man to behave towards the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it.

I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite - only a sense of existence. Well, anything for variety.

The unconsciousness of man is the consciousness of God.