A friend who cannot at a pinch remember a thing or two that never happened is as bad as one who does not know how to forget.

Quote by Samuel Butler

Topics: Samuel Butler Quotes

There is no such source of error as the pursuit of truth.

There is no such source of error as the pursuit of truth.

The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing should be taken...

The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing should be taken...

Theist and atheist: the fight between them is as to whether God shall be called...

Theist and atheist: the fight between them is as to whether God shall be called...

From a worldly point of view, there is no mistake so great as that of...

From a worldly point of view, there is no mistake so great as that of...

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also...

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also...

To give pain is the tyranny; to make happy, the true empire of beauty.

To give pain is the tyranny; to make happy, the true empire of beauty.

The history of art is the history of revivals

The history of art is the history of revivals

A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.

A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.

There is such a thing as doing good that evil may come.

There is such a thing as doing good that evil may come.

The worst thing that can happen to a man is to lose his money, the...

The worst thing that can happen to a man is to lose his money, the...

There is no true gracefulness which is not epitomized goodness.

There is no true gracefulness which is not epitomized goodness.

Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. Whether it is or is not more...

Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. Whether it is or is not more...

It is our less conscious thoughts and our less conscious actions which mainly mould our...

It is our less conscious thoughts and our less conscious actions which mainly mould our...

All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism...

All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism...

If people would dare to speak to one another unreservedly, there would be a good...

If people would dare to speak to one another unreservedly, there would be a good...

Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete...

Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete...

To be at all is to be religious more or less

To be at all is to be religious more or less

The function of vice is to keep virtue within reasonable bounds.

The function of vice is to keep virtue within reasonable bounds.

The only living works are those which have drained much of the author's own life...

The only living works are those which have drained much of the author's own life...

Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.

Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.