Mason Cooley

Death is always there, just beneath the surface.

— Mason Cooley

Scholars dream of finding small facts pregnant with great progeny.

— Mason Cooley

I did not know I was in my prime until afterwards.

— Mason Cooley

The transcendental promises a vacation from history.

— Mason Cooley

Aimless drifting also fulfills an intention.

— Mason Cooley

At the end of every diet, the path curves back to the trough.

— Mason Cooley

Literature gives us a memory of lives we did not lead.

— Mason Cooley

I want to appear ordinary, but I have it understood that I am not.

— Mason Cooley

Arrogance rides triumphantly through the gates, barely glancing at the old woman about to cut the rope and spring shut the trap.

— Mason Cooley

The plastic surgeon's knife slashes at time, which may seem to retreat, but then keeps on coming.

— Mason Cooley

At sixty, I know little more about wisdom than I did at thirty, but I know a great deal more about folly.

— Mason Cooley

Errors are more numerous than truths, but fortunately too divided among themselves to take power.

— Mason Cooley

Good places for aphorisms: in fortune cookies, on bumper stickers, and on banners flying over the Palace of Free Advice.

— Mason Cooley

To be thoroughly modern, an aphorism should trail off vaguely rather than coming to a point.

— Mason Cooley

Expensive advertising courts us with hints and images. The ordinary kind merely says, Buy.

— Mason Cooley

The little suckings and smackings of the perversions are the sounds of joyous infancy.

— Mason Cooley

Boredom and fear keep us working and obeying the laws.

— Mason Cooley

Forgiveness is like faith. You have to keep reviving it.

— Mason Cooley

Poor but happy is not a phrase invented by a poor person.

— Mason Cooley

Women encourage men to be childish, then scold them.

— Mason Cooley

In the street, the gaze of desire is furtive or menacing.

— Mason Cooley

Analysis is more likely to adjust evidence than to adjust itself.

— Mason Cooley

Advice is more agreeable in the mouth than in the ear.

— Mason Cooley

I will not tolerate your faults. They are of no use to me.

— Mason Cooley

The educated do not share a common body of information, but a common state of mind.

— Mason Cooley

Preserving tradition has become a nice hobby, like stamp collecting.

— Mason Cooley

Living alone makes it harder to find someone to blame.

— Mason Cooley

Few friendships could survive the moodiness of love affairs.

— Mason Cooley

Adrenalin dispels boredom. Run, you sufferers from ennui! Run for your lives!

— Mason Cooley

The young break rules for fun. The old for profit.

— Mason Cooley

The wretchedness of failure is the great attraction of success.

— Mason Cooley

What lies behind appearance is usually another appearance.

— Mason Cooley

Logic teaches rules for presentation, not thinking.

— Mason Cooley

Attaining even mediocrity is often a struggle.

— Mason Cooley

It is hard to speak of sex without being clinical, brutal, or romantic.

— Mason Cooley

Complaining is the favorite pastime of millions.

— Mason Cooley

A yawn is more disconcerting than a contradiction.

— Mason Cooley

Rage is exciting, but leaves me confused and exhausted.

— Mason Cooley

Rule of criticism: only attend to the shape, and the purpose will manifest itself.

— Mason Cooley

In comedy, the witty style wins out over every mishap of the plot.

— Mason Cooley