“The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them.” — Samuel Butler Books Copy Share Image
The public do not know enough to be experts, but know enough to decide between them. — Samuel Butler Decide Copy Share Image
Books want to be born: I never make them. They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such… — Samuel Butler Book Copy Share Image
“For Rhime the Rudder is of Verses, With which like Ships they steer their courses.” — Samuel Butler Poetry Copy Share Image
People care more about being thought to have taste than about being thought either good, clever or amiable. — Samuel Butler Amiable Copy Share Image
“Boys and young men are violent in their affections, but they are seldom very constant;” — Samuel Butler Love Copy Share Image
People in general are equally horrified at hearing the Christian religion doubted, and at seeing it practiced. — Samuel Butler Christian Copy Share Image
Whatsoever we perpetrate, we do but row; we are steered by fate. — Samuel Butler Destiny Copy Share Image
If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how… — Samuel Butler Little Copy Share Image
“Happiness and misery consist in a progression towards better or worse; it does not matter how high up or low down you… — Samuel Butler Happiness Copy Share Image
A sense of humor keen enough to show a man his own absurdities will keep him from the commission of all sins,… — Samuel Butler Comedy Copy Share Image
A lawyer's dream of heaven: every man reclaimed his property at the resurrection, and each tried to recover it from all his… — Samuel Butler Dream Copy Share Image
He has spent his life best who has enjoyed it most. God will take care that we do not enjoy it any… — Samuel Butler Care Copy Share Image
In practice it is seldom very hard to do one's duty when one knows what it is, but it is sometimes extremely… — Samuel Butler Difficult Copy Share Image
If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes sufficiently clear. Sensible people will wait till he has… — Samuel Butler Attention Copy Share Image
“He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still Which he may adhere to, yet disown, For reasons to… — Samuel Butler Copy Share Image
It seems to be the fate of man to seek all his consolations in futurity. The time present is seldom able to… — Samuel Butler Able Copy Share Image
“We can never get rid of mouse-ideas completely, they keep turning up again and again, and nibble, nibble--no matter how often we… — Samuel Butler Ideas Copy Share Image
“For society indeed of all sorts, except of course that of a few intimate friends, he had an unconquerable aversion. "I always… — Samuel Butler Hate people Copy Share Image
“we must judge men not so much by what they, as by what they make us feel that they have it in… — Samuel Butler Life Copy Share Image
“All our lives long, every day and every hour, we are engaged in the process of accommodating our changed and unchanged selves… — Samuel Butler Every day Copy Share Image
“All young ladies are either very pretty or very clever or very sweet; they may take their choice as to which category… — Samuel Butler Young ladies Copy Share Image
“To me it seems that youth is like spring, an overpraised season-- delightful if it happen to be a favoured one, but… — Samuel Butler Autumn Copy Share Image
“Having, then, once introduced an element of inconsistency into his system, he was far too consistent not to be inconsistent consistently, and… — Samuel Butler Consistency Copy Share Image
He was born stupid, and greatly increased his birthright. — Samuel Butler Birthright Copy Share Image
