“Now India is a place beyond all others where one must not take things too seriously—the midday sun always excepted.”

What is the Law of the Jungle? Strike first and then give tongue.

We’re all islands shouting lies to each other across seas of misunderstanding.

The jungle speaks to me because I know how to listen.

We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.

God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.

You must learn to forgive a man when he’s in love. He’s always a nuisance.

All things considered, there are only two kinds of men in the world: those that stay at home and those that do not.

If you do not get what you want, it is a sure sign that you did not seriously want it.

A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke.

All good people agree, And all good people say, All nice people, like Us, are We And every one else is They: But if you cross over the sea, Instead of over the way, You may end by (think of it!) looking on We As only a sort of They!

It’s always best to tell the truth.

Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master.

There is no sin greater than ignorance.

Never look backwards or you’ll fall down the stairs.

Beware of overconcern for money, or position, or glory. Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.

Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.

I appreciate subtlety. I have never enjoyed a kiss in front of the camera. There’s nothing to it except not getting your lipstick smeared.

Above all, except the wife and children, I want to see my books.

It felt perverse, how the world just carried on. How everyone was still here, except for my Suzanne.

One can stand anything except a succession of ordinary days.

Everything has been figured out, except how to live.

To be loved for what one is, that is the greatest exception. The great majority love in others only what they lend him; their own selves, their version of him.

It is not necessary for me always to premise, that I speak of the condition of the whole sex, leaving exceptions out of the question.