Comedy is acting out optimism.

His modesty amounts to deformity.

I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.

Every man's memory is his private literature.

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

A book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it an apostle is hardly likely to look out.

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

I'm not afraid of dying I just don't want to be there when it happens.

The traditional ways were wrongly disowned by Christianity - in hindsight, medicine men were not demons but very important counsellors in the community.

Wine is wonderful stuff. But so many people are put off by the snobbery of it.

Human decency is not derived from religion. It precedes it.

Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.

There is nothing more miserable in the world than to arrive in paradise and look like your passport photo.

Dare to risk public criticism.

Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.

An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality; our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of performing.

The imagination is not a state: it is the human existence itself.

You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.

In terms of an identity, an identity reflects an individuality, by definition. And, if there is a quality present, it is recognizable and it can be named. If you can't name it, it means you don't recognize it.

Some newspapers are fit only to line the bottom of bird cages.