There surely is in human nature an inherent propensity to extract all the good out of all the evil.

Art is a reality, not a definition; inasmuch as it approaches a reality, it approaches perfection, and inasmuch as it approaches a mere definition, it is imperfect and untrue.

When a man is no longer anxious to do better than well, he is done for.

Temperance in everything is requisite for happiness.

Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized.

The safest principle through life, instead of reforming others, is to set about perfecting yourself.

Genius is nothing more than common faculties refined to a greater intensity. There are no astonishing ways of doing astonishing things. All astonishing things are done by ordinary materials.

Never suffer youth to be an excuse for inadequacy, nor age and fame to be an excuse for indolence.

All government is an evil, but, of the two form's of that evil, democracy or monarchy, the sounder is monarchy; the more able to do its will, democracy.

The only legitimate artists in England are the architects.

It is highly convenient to believe in the infinite mercy of God when you feel the need of mercy, but remember also his infinite justice.

Iron turns red when it corrodes, and copper turns green. Meat turns to maggots, and thoughts turn to speech.

If you stop being judgemental

Liberal: a power worshipper without power.

Footsteps in the snow suggest where you have been, point to where you were going: but when they suddenly vanish, never dismiss the possibility of flight.

For me to propose a division of Jerusalem was really terrible. I did it because I reached a conclusion that without which there will not be peace.

There are no mistakes, no coincidences; all events are blessings given to us to learn from.

In a dark moment I ask, "How can anyone bring a child into this world?" And the answer rings clear, "Because there is no other world, and because the child has no other way into it."

Ballet is sort of a mystery to me. And I don't want to unravel that mystery.

There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction.

You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career.