Excitement is the drunkenness of the spirits. Only calm waters reflect heaven in their bosom.

The woman who does not choose to love should cut the matter short at once, by holding out no hopes to her suitor.

There are women so hard to please that it would seem as if nothing less than an angel would suit them; and hence it comes that they often encounter devils.

Delicacy is the genuine tint of virtue.

It is the same in love as in war; a fortress that parleys is half taken.

We shall all be perfectly virtuous when there is no longer any flesh on our bones.

Science conducts us, step by step, through the whole range of creation, until we arrive, at length, at God.

Women suffer more from disappointment than men, because they have more of faith and are naturally more credulous.

No one perfectly loves God who does not perfectly love some of his creatures.

Temptations, like misfortunes, are sent to test our moral strength.

Prudence advises us to use our enemies as if one day they might be friends.

I’m not looking for fate. I’m seventeen. I’m looking for kissing, and to move forward a few paces on the game board. You know, do some Living. (With my lips.)

Home is always the impossible subject, multilayered and maddening.

My favorite books to give or get are short story collections. And always paperbacks because they are easy to carry as you travel.

Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal.

I don't think history will ever be a science because history will never be reduced to law-like behavior. People are to unpredictable.

The only thing I have to do in life is die. Everything else is a choice... including breathing.

I'm an old newspaper-man myself, but I quit because I found there was no money in old newspapers.

I've written some poetry, but...songs have to be more poetic, and I've really gotten to this non-poetic sort of writing.

An unguarded strength is a double weakness.

Here's why nuclear defense makes sense. And I know something about this. A missile can take an airplane out of the air. A better missile can take a missile out of the air.