Samuel Butler – Page 3

An idea must not be condemned for being a little shy and incoherent; all new ideas are shy when introduced first among our old ones. We should have patience and see whether the incoherency is likely to wear off or to wear on, in which latter case the sooner we get rid of them the better. – Samuel Butler

God cannot alter the past, but historians can. – Samuel Butler

Neither have they hearts to stay, nor wit enough to run away. – Samuel Butler

The thief. Once committed beyond a certain point he should not worry himself too much about not being a thief any more. Thieving is Gods message to him. Let him try and be a good thief. – Samuel Butler

Union may be strength, but it is mere blind brute strength unless wisely directed. – Samuel Butler

It is not he who gains the exact point in dispute who scores most in controversy — but he who has shown the better temper. – Samuel Butler

They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, Can he name a kitten? – Samuel Butler

A hen is only an eggs way of making another egg. – Samuel Butler

A physicians physiology has much the same relation to his power of healing as a clerics divinity has to his power of influencing conduct. – Samuel Butler

A mans friendships are, like his will, invalidated by marriage – but they are also no less invalidated by the marriage of his friends. – Samuel Butler

Man is Gods highest present development. He is the latest thing in God. – Samuel Butler

Every mans work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself. – Samuel Butler

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all. – Samuel Butler

Work with some men is as besetting a sin as idleness. – Samuel Butler

Think of and look at your work as though it were done by your enemy. I you look at it to admire it, you are lost. – Samuel Butler

Women can stand a beating except when it is with their own weapons. – Samuel Butler

A skilful leech is better far, than half a hundred men of war. – Samuel Butler

For truth is precious and divine, too rich a pearl for carnal swine. – Samuel Butler

Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well. – Samuel Butler

The Bible may be the truth, but it is not the whole truth and nothing but the truth. – Samuel Butler