The magic of the pen lies in the concentration of your thoughts upon one object.

Books minister to our knowledge, to our guidance, and to our delight, by their truth, their uprightness, and their art.

Science is the systematic classification of experience.

Originality is independence, not rebellion; it is sincerity, not antagonism.

It is unhappily true that much insincere Literature and Art, executed solely with a view to effect, does succeed by deceiving the public.

No man ever made a great discovery without the exercise of the imagination.

We must never assume that which is incapable of proof.

The true function of philosophy is to educate us in the principles of reasoning and not to put an end to further reasoning by the introduction of fixed conclusions.

Insincerity is always weakness; sincerity even in error is strength.

To write much, and to write rapidly, are empty boasts. The world desires to know what you have done, and not how you did it.

Good writers are of necessity rare.

Sophistication is a thing of the mind not of worldly appearance.

Perhaps you should speak more softly to me, then. Monsters are dangerous beasts, and just now kings seem to be dying like flies.

Treat 'em like dogs, and you'll have dogs' works and dogs' actions. Treat 'em like men, and you'll have men's works.

The networks at their worst (were) at once greedy and timid.

There was a kindliness about intoxication - there was that indescribable gloss and glamour it gave, like the memories of ephemeral and faded evenings.

A majority, perhaps as many as 75 percent, of abortion clinics are in areas with high minority populations.

There used to be a time when the idea of heroes was important. People grew up sharing those myths and legends and ideals. Now they grow up sharing McDonalds and Disneyland.

A poet must have died as a man before he is worth anything as a poet.

As you have fewer and fewer voices in a democracy, in a free society, it's not good to limit the number of voices.

Perfection is the antithesis of authenticity.