Economy is the first and great article (economy such as I understand it) in my financial creed. The controversy between direct and indirect taxation holds a minor, though important place.

Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness.

Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear.

No one ever became great except through many and great mistakes.

Be inspired with the belief that life is a great and noble calling; not a mean and groveling thing that we are to shuffle through as we can, but an elevated and lofty destiny.

Books are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of books - even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome.

Nothing that is morally wrong can be politically right.

Men are apt to mistake the strength of their feeling for the strength of their argument. The heated mind resents the chill touch and relentless scrutiny of logic.

I have known ninety-five of the world's great men in my time, and of these eighty-seven were followers of the Bible.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

National injustice is the surest road to national downfall.

If your eyes dwell in your heart

There is madness in every single being, is there not?

Real life security and contentment come not from putting a gun in the cupboard, but from taking a role in the world's future.

I think I may be in love with you, Sophie," said Will. "Marriage could be in the cards.

I think that is a very important component, to have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life.

There are people who like short movies, and I think they should just watch our movies on DVD because they can pause, go to the bathroom, eat dinner, and come back to it.

There is really no end to life's little humiliations.

When we accept dismissive judgments of our community we stop having generous hope for it. We cease to be capable of serving its best interests.

The way something is presented will define the way you react to it.

When I look back over my novels what I find is that when I think I'm finished with a theme, I'm generally not. And usually themes will recur from novel to novel in odd, new guises.