Walter Bagehot

The greatest mistake is trying to be m ore agreeable than you can be.

Strong beliefs win strong men, and then make them stronger.

A man's mother is his misfortune, but his wife is his fault.

The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything.

It is good to be without vices, but it is not good to be without temptations.

The whole history of civilization is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.

The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency.

One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.

The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.