“People cannot remain good unless good is expected of them.”

Poverty makes you sad as well as wise.

We often do not know ourselves the grounds On which we act, though plain to others.

People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.

The finest plans are always ruined by the littleness of those who ought to carry them out, for emperor himself can actually be nothing.

There are some with brains and some without. It makes for a better division of labour.

Their peace and their war Are like wind and storm. War grows from their peace.

I’m in good form, taking no interest in things, neglecting clothes, meals, company, and feeling calm and stable as I write.

The human race tends to remember the abuses to which it has been subjected rather than the endearments. What’s left of kisses? Wounds, however, leave scars.

Those who take the most from the table, teach contentment. Those for whom the taxes are destined, demand sacrifice. Those who eat their fill, speak to the hungry, of wonderful times to come. Those who lead the country into the abyss, call ruling difficult, for ordinary folk.

From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first.

A man who sees another man on the street corner with only a stump for an arm will be so shocked the first time he’ll give him sixpence. But the second time it’ll only be a three penny bit. And if he sees him a third time, he’ll have him cold-bloodedly handed over to the police.

To those who does not know the world is on fire, I have nothing to say.

General, your bomber is powerful. It flies faster than a storm and carries more than an elephant. But it has one defect: It needs a mechanic. General, man is very useful. He can fly and he can kill. But he has one defect: He can think.

It’s never too late for those whose time has come.

I Who live in Los Angeles and not in London Find, on thinking about Hell, that it must be Still more like Los Angeles.

No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.

If I’m expected to keep your messages, and everybody else’s, then there should be a law that says, you need to keep all of these.

As expected life isn’t that sweet at all. When I came to Tokyo I thought I could achieve anything with my own two hands. It’s not like that.

It authenticates itself. Something inside us knows. This…is what has been sought for, longed for, looked for. This is it. Usually, it’s not what we expected.

People fed on sugared praises cannot be expected to feel an appetite for the black broth of honest criticism.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to retain 98% of it which I never really expected, so I’m very grateful to be able to control what I can.

With My Dog-Eyes by Hilda Hilst got more exposure and reached far more readers than I ever expected.

No one expected the preacher’s daughter to sin, but they sure would love to catch me at it.

You aren’t what I expected. I wish you were. It’d be so much easier.