Whereas, to borrow an illustration from mathematics, life was formerly an equation of, say, 100 unknown quantities, it is now one of 99 only, inasmuch as memory and heredity have been shown to be one and the same thing. Samuel Butler More Quotes by Samuel Butler More Quotes From Samuel Butler Spare the rod and spoil the child. Samuel Butler punishment moments children 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 prayer men children 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 devil errors men 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 genuine stealing inspirational To die completely, a person must not only forget but be forgotten, and he who is not forgotten is not dead. Samuel Butler dying forget death If a man knows not life which he hath seen, how shall he know death, which he hath not seen? Samuel Butler dying men death 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 dying death people He dons are too busy educating the young men to be able to teach them anything. Samuel Butler teaching education men The only absolute morality is absolute stagnation. Samuel Butler stagnation ethics morality 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 adversity failure men There is no permanent absolute unchangeable truth; what we should pursue is the most convenient arrangement of our ideas. Samuel Butler honesty truth ideas Since God himself cannot change the past, He is obliged to tolerate the existence of historians. Samuel Butler existence history past 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 fate hope men Justice is my being allowed to do whatever I like. Injustice is whatever prevents my doing so. Samuel Butler justice-and-injustice injustice justice The youth of an art is, like the youth of anything else, its most interesting period. Samuel Butler youth art interesting He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts. Samuel Butler good-thoughts greatness men There is a photographer in every bush, going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Samuel Butler gossip roaring lions People are always good company when they are doing what they really enjoy. Samuel Butler work happiness people Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well. Samuel Butler wisdom truth lying 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 opinion wish character
