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

If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to...

If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to...

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

There is nothing which at once affects a man so much and so little as...

There is nothing which at once affects a man so much and so little as...

The dons of Oxford and Cambridge are too busy educating the young men to be...

The dons of Oxford and Cambridge are too busy educating the young men to be...

The healthy stomach is nothing if it is not conservative. Few radicals have good digestions.

The healthy stomach is nothing if it is not conservative. Few radicals have good digestions.

Half the vices which the world condemns most loudly have seeds of good in them...

Half the vices which the world condemns most loudly have seeds of good in them...

The Athanasian Creed is to me light and intelligible reading in comparison with much that...

The Athanasian Creed is to me light and intelligible reading in comparison with much that...

The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance.

The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance.

In old times people used to try and square the circle; now they try and...

In old times people used to try and square the circle; now they try and...

Life is not an exact science, it is an art.

Life is not an exact science, it is an art.

It is a wise tune that knows its own father, and I like my music...

It is a wise tune that knows its own father, and I like my music...

All philosophies, if you ride them home, are nonsense, but some are greater nonsense than...

All philosophies, if you ride them home, are nonsense, but some are greater nonsense than...

God was satisfied with his own work, and that is fatal.

God was satisfied with his own work, and that is fatal.

Be virtuous and you will be vicious.

Be virtuous and you will be vicious.

The seven deadly sins: Want of money, bad health, bad temper, chastity, family ties, knowing...

The seven deadly sins: Want of money, bad health, bad temper, chastity, family ties, knowing...

If life must not be taken too seriously, then so neither must death.

If life must not be taken too seriously, then so neither must death.

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

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

Oaths are but words, and words are but wind.

Oaths are but words, and words are but wind.

A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg.

A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg.

Look before you leap for as you sow, ye are like to reap.

Look before you leap for as you sow, ye are like to reap.