I may not understand, but I am willing to admire.

For my part, if a man must needs be a knave I would have him a debonair knave… It makes your sin no worse as I conceive, to do it Г  la mode and stylishly.

In the deep, unwritten wisdom of life there are many things to be learned that cannot be taught. We never know them by hearing them spoken, but we grow into them by experience and recognize them through understanding. Understanding is a great experience in itself, but it does not come through instruction.

Good families are generally worse than any others.

He is very fond of making things which he does not want, and then giving them to people who have no use for them.

There are moments when I dare not think of it, but there are others when I rise in spirit to where she ever dwells; then I can thank God that I love the noblest lady in the world, the most gracious and beautiful, and that there was nothing in my love that made her fall short in her high duty.

Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is generally promoting a falsehood, isn’t it?

Unless you are a genius, it is best to aim at being intelligible.

I have an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one’s income is ever quite sufficient, you know).

Economy is going without something you do want in case you should, some day, want something you probably won‘t want.

I wish you would read a little poetry sometimes. Your ignorance cramps my conversation.

Unless one is a genius, it is best to aim at being intelligible.

His foe was folly and his weapon wit.