Mason Cooley

Lead the reader toward the thought, then stop a little short.

— Mason Cooley

People are reluctant to cite boredom as grounds for divorce.

— Mason Cooley

To appear well dressed, be skinny and tall.

— Mason Cooley

The noisy vacancy of youth, the quiet vacancy of age.

— Mason Cooley

Something is sticking out its tongue at me from the corner of my mirror.

— Mason Cooley

Beautiful people are forgiven more often than the rest.

— Mason Cooley

The sacred is found boring by many who find the uncanny fascinating.

— Mason Cooley

The aphorism sometimes casts off cynicism and expresses strong feeling.

— Mason Cooley

In ethics, prudence is not an important virtue, but in the world it is almost everything.

— Mason Cooley

Alone, I am satisfied with myself. With others, I am beset by troubling comparisons.

— Mason Cooley

Old photograph: amid the set poses of her family, a young girl smiles and raises her hand a little.

— Mason Cooley

Early every morning an old woman goes to the market to curse a grocery clerk, who curses back.

— Mason Cooley

Self-realization is a comedown from salvation, but still gives us something to hope for.

— Mason Cooley

Great men wait for the right moment to abandon caution. The rest of us abandon it when impatience becomes too much for…

— Mason Cooley

Psychology keeps trying to vindicate human nature. History keeps undermining the effort.

— Mason Cooley

Ladies and gentlemen are supposed to be looked after by others, like children and pets.

— Mason Cooley

If success is a habit, it is a hard one to acquire.

— Mason Cooley

Tales of adultery are much improved by period costumes.

— Mason Cooley

A sympathetic look always makes me feel sorry for myself.

— Mason Cooley

In every death, a busy world comes to an end.

— Mason Cooley

Lust and greed are more gullible than innocence.

— Mason Cooley

Most people regard getting their way as a matter of simple justice.

— Mason Cooley

I have tried being surreal, but my frogs hop right back into their realistic ponds.

— Mason Cooley

Austerity causes constipation; excess, diarrhea.

— Mason Cooley

The sorrow of not being movie stars overwhelms millions.

— Mason Cooley

I feel that I have something significant to say, but I cannot think what it is.

— Mason Cooley

Pleasure usually comes when called, but not happiness.

— Mason Cooley

Prudence does not save us, but shows us pictures of our destroyers.

— Mason Cooley

Drunks conjure an endless drama from their bottles.

— Mason Cooley

The discontented believe that their regrets are about the past.

— Mason Cooley

Experience is a great spoiler of pleasures.

— Mason Cooley

Of course I want to be good, but that may not be to your advantage.

— Mason Cooley

Repetition comforts me for a time, then closes in.

— Mason Cooley

Frivolous sorrow is folly. Frivolous enjoyment is not.

— Mason Cooley

The Enlightenment needs more shadow; the Romantic Movement less.

— Mason Cooley

Politics inflame the passions in a way that few beloveds can match.

— Mason Cooley

I know that I am what I am. But I am not sure what I am.

— Mason Cooley

In describing someone's character, I reveal my own.

— Mason Cooley

My mentors grow old and foolish. I am afraid.

— Mason Cooley

Many have attempted unnatural acts, but Nature has always shown the way.

— Mason Cooley