“It stands to reason that he who would cure a moral ailment must be practically acquainted with it in all its bearings.” — Samuel Butler Character Copy Share Image
People are lucky and unlucky not according to what they get absolutely, but according to the ratio between what they get and… — Samuel Butler Lucky Copy Share Image
The youth of an art is, like the youth of anything else, its most interesting period. When it has come to the… — Samuel Butler Art Copy Share Image
Half the vices which the world condemns most loudly have seeds of good in them and require moderate use rather than total… — Samuel Butler Abstinence Copy Share Image
“The greater part of every family is always odious; if there are one or two good ones in a very large family,… — Samuel Butler Family Copy Share Image
The seven deadly sins: Want of money, bad health, bad temper, chastity, family ties, knowing that you know things, and believing I… — Samuel Butler Bad health Copy Share Image
“Every one should keep a mental wastepaper basket and the older he grows the more things he will consign to it -… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
A drunkard would not give money to sober people. He said they would only eat it, and buy clothes and send their… — Samuel Butler Children Copy Share Image
I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
An open mind is all very well in its way, but it ought not to be so open that there is no… — Samuel Butler Mind Copy Share Image
They say the test of [literary power] is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, "Can he name a kitten?"… — Samuel Butler Cat Copy Share Image
If people would dare to speak to one another unreservedly, there would be a good deal less sorrow in the world a… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
It is our less conscious thoughts and our less conscious actions which mainly mould our lives and the lives of those who… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
Whereas, to borrow an illustration from mathematics, life was formerly an equation of, say, 100 unknown quantities, it is now one of… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
“There are orphanages," he exclaimed to himself, "for children who have lost their parents--oh! why, why, why, are there no harbours of… — Samuel Butler Children Copy Share Image
“We all love best not those who offend us least, nor those who have done most for us, but those who make… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
Our own death is a premium which we must pay for the far greater benefit we have derived from the fact that… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
Those who have never had a father can at any rate never know the sweets of losing one. To most men the… — Samuel Butler Death Copy Share Image
When the water of a place is bad it is safest to drink none that has not been filtered through either the… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
Mr. Tennyson has said that more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of, but he wisely refrains from saying… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
Prayers are to men as dolls are to children. They are not without use and comfort, but it is not easy to… — Samuel Butler Atheism Copy Share Image
When a man is in doubt about this or that in his writing, it will often guide him if he asks himself… — Samuel Butler Doubt Copy Share Image
A sense of humour keen enough to show a man his own absurdities as well as those of other people will keep… — Samuel Butler Comedy Copy Share Image
Flying. Whatever any other organism has been able to do man should surely be able to do also, though he may go… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right… — Samuel Butler Advantage Copy Share Image
There is no permanent absolute unchangeable truth; what we should pursue is the most convenient arrangement of our ideas. — Samuel Butler Absolutes Copy Share Image
The seven deadly sins: Want of money, bad health, bad temper, chastity, family ties, knowing that you know things, and believing in… — Samuel Butler Bad health Copy Share Image
If there is any moral in Christianity, if there is anything to be learned from it, if the whole story is not… — Samuel Butler Christianity Copy Share Image
When people talk of atoms obeying fixed laws, they are either ascribing some kind of intelligence and free will to atoms or… — Samuel Butler Atoms Copy Share Image
“I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific… — Samuel Butler Books Copy Share Image
Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. Whether it is or is not more efficacious I do not know. — Samuel Butler Medical Copy Share Image
An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all… — Samuel Butler Apology Copy Share Image
“No boy can resist being fed well by a good-natured and still handsome woman. Boys are very like nice dogs in this… — Samuel Butler Boys Copy Share Image
It is not he who gains the exact point in dispute who scores most in controversy - but he who has shown… — Samuel Butler Controversy Copy Share Image
Money is the last enemy that shall never be subdued. While there is flesh there is money or the want of money,… — Samuel Butler Brain Copy Share Image
![“They say the test of [literary power] is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, "Can he name a kitten?" And by this test I am condemned, for I cannot.” quote by Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/e81/samuel-butler-823_cat_they-say-the-test-of-literary-power-is-w_3110797.jpg)
