When aman says that he approves something in principle, it means he hasn't theslightest intention of putting it in practice.

Laughteris the shortest distance between two people.

Concentration of wealth will never be a problem as long as we have those three great institutions for redistributing it: Taxes, wives, offspring.

Malicedrinketh its own poison.

Two man looks out through the same bars: the one sees the mud, the one the stars.

Long-rangeplanning works best in the short term.

Takeyour life into your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing, no one toblame.

The average man’s life consists of: Twenty years of having his mother ask him where he is going, Forty years of having his wife ask the same question; and at the end, the mourners wondering too.

Duty largely consists of pretending that the trivial is critical

Grantgraciously what you cannot refuse safely and conciliate those you cannotconquer.

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned

Far better to think historically, to remember the lessonsof the past. Thus, far better to conceive of power as consisting in part ofthe knowledge of when not to use all the power you have. Far better to be onewho knows that if you reserve the power not to