“There is no sin so great as ignorance. Remember this.”

If you give someone more than they can do, they will do it. If you give them only what they can do, they will do nothing.

I am by nature a dealer in words, and words are the most powerful drug known to humanity.

Tis beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It’s just IT. Some women will stay in a man’s memory if they once walked down a street.

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

If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.

We are the opening verse of the opening page of the chapter of endless possibilities.

Oh East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet.

No printed word, nor spoken plea can teach young minds what they should be. Not all the books on all the shelves – but what the teachers are themselves.

Not getting what you want either means you don’t want it enough, or you have been dealing too long with the price you have to pay.

Nations have passed away and left no traces, And history gives the naked cause of it – One single simple reason in all cases; They fell because their peoples were not fit.

Literature is a splendid mistress, but a bad wife.

If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. The world will be yours and everything in it, what’s more, you’ll be a man, my son.

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.

The world is very lovely, and it’s very horrible–and it doesn’t care about your life or mine or anything else.

Never praise a sister to a sister, in the hope of your compliments reaching the proper ears, and so preparing the way for you later on. Sisters are women first, and sisters afterwards; and you will find that you do yourself harm.

I keep six honest serving men (they taught me all i knew); Theirs names are What and Why and When And How And Where and Who.

The discovery of America was the occasion of the greatest outburst of cruelty and reckless greed known in history.

Pasteur will be celebrated almost as a God-like figure. This is when the moon completes her great cycle, but by other rumors, he shall be dishonored.

It contributes greatly towards a man’s moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate.

Writing is a great comfort to people like me, who are unsure of themselves and have trouble expressing themselves properly.

A great song will be great forever – it’s timeless and classic in that way.

It is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are accomplished in a blessed, warm fog.

I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming… suddenly you find – at the age of 50, say – that a whole new life has opened before you.

If mankind were all intellect, they would be continually changing, so that one age would be entirely unlike another. The great conservative is the heart, which remains the same in all ages; so that commonplaces of a thousand years’ standing are as effective as ever.