Selected Words of Wisdom and Wit
“It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not to deserve them.” [Post]
“You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” [Post]
“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” [Post]
“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” [Post]
“Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.” [Post]
“If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.” [Post]
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” [Post]
“Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform.” [Post]
“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.” [Post]
“It is easier to stay out than get out.” [Post]
“We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it—and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again—and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one any more.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 2
“It is your human environment that makes climate.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 2 (link above)
“Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 3
“Let us not be too particular. It is better to have old second-hand diamonds than none at all.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 4
“The spirit of wrath—not the words—is the sin; and the spirit of wrath is cursing. We begin to swear before we can talk.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 4 (link above)
There is an old-time toast which is golden for its beauty. “When you ascend the hill of prosperity may you not meet a friend.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 5
“True irreverence is disrespect for another man’s god.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 6
“There are two times in a man’s life when he should not speculate: when he can’t afford it, and when he can.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 6 (link above)
“Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist but you have ceased to live.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 6 (link above)
“Make it a point to do something every day that you don’t want to do. This is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.” [Post] In Following the Equator, Part 6 (link above)
