They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, "Can he name a kitten?" Samuel Butler More Quotes by Samuel Butler More Quotes From Samuel Butler Spare the rod and spoil the child. Samuel Butler punishmentmomentschildren Prayers are to men as dolls are to children. They are not without use and comfort, but it is not easy to take them very seriously. Samuel Butler prayermenchildren An obstinate man does not hold opinions, but they hold him; for when he is once possessed with an error, it is, like a devil, only cast out with great difficulty. Samuel Butler devilerrorsmen Inspiration is never genuine if it is known as inspiration at the time. True inspiration always steals on a person; its importance not being fully recognized for some time. Samuel Butler genuinestealinginspirational To die completely, a person must not only forget but be forgotten, and he who is not forgotten is not dead. Samuel Butler dyingforgetdeath If a man knows not life which he hath seen, how shall he know death, which he hath not seen? Samuel Butler dyingmendeath Our own death is a premium which we must pay for the far greater benefit we have derived from the fact that so many people have not only lived but also died before us. Samuel Butler dyingdeathpeople He dons are too busy educating the young men to be able to teach them anything. Samuel Butler teachingeducationmen The only absolute morality is absolute stagnation. Samuel Butler stagnationethicsmorality Adversity, if a man is set down to it by degrees, is more supportable with equanimity by most people than any great prosperity arrived at in a single lifetime. Samuel Butler adversityfailuremen There is no permanent absolute unchangeable truth; what we should pursue is the most convenient arrangement of our ideas. Samuel Butler honestytruthideas Since God himself cannot change the past, He is obliged to tolerate the existence of historians. Samuel Butler existencehistorypast It seems to be the fate of man to seek all his consolations in futurity. The time present is seldom able to fill desire or imagination with immediate enjoyment, and we are forced to supply its deficiencies by recollection or anticipation. Samuel Butler fatehopemen Justice is my being allowed to do whatever I like. Injustice is whatever prevents my doing so. Samuel Butler justice-and-injusticeinjusticejustice The youth of an art is, like the youth of anything else, its most interesting period. Samuel Butler youthartinteresting He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts. Samuel Butler good-thoughtsgreatnessmen There is a photographer in every bush, going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Samuel Butler gossiproaringlions People are always good company when they are doing what they really enjoy. Samuel Butler workhappinesspeople Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well. Samuel Butler wisdomtruthlying The wish to spread those opinions that we hold conducive to our own welfare is so deeply rooted in the English character that few of us can escape its influence. Samuel Butler opinionwishcharacter
