Human life is as evanescent as the morning dew or a flash of lightning. – Samuel Butler
A sense of humor keen enough to show a man his own absurdities will keep him from the commission of all sins, or nearly all, save those worth committing. – Samuel Butler
It is a wise tune that knows its own father, and I like my music to be the legitimate offspring of respectable parents. – Samuel Butler
To give pain is the tyranny to make happy, the true empire of beauty. – Samuel Butler
What I like about sceptics is that in good science you need critics that make you think: Crumbs, have I made a mistake here? If you dont have that continuously, you really are up the creek. The good sceptics have done a good service, but some of the mad ones I think have not done anyone any favours. – James Lovelock