Quote

When a man is in doubt about this or that in his writing, it will often guide him if he asks himself how it will tell a hundred years hence.

Samuel Butler

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Samuel Butler
Age: 66 †
Born: 1835
Born: December 4
Died: 1902
Died: June 18
Farmer
Novelist
Painter
Photographer
Poet
Science Fiction Writer
Translator
Writer
Notts
Cellarius
Tell
Writing
Hence
Years
Guide
Men
Guides
Hundred
Doubt
Asks
Often

More quotes by Samuel Butler

Image
God cannot alter the past, though historians can.
Samuel Butler
Image
If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.
Samuel Butler
Image
The worst thing that can happen to a man is to lose his money, the next worst his health, the next worst his reputation.
Samuel Butler
Image
Opinions have vested interests just as men have.
Samuel Butler
Image
Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself.
Samuel Butler
Image
Lying has a kind of respect and reverence with it. We pay a person the compliment of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to him.
Samuel Butler
Image
Some men love truth so much that they seem to be in continual fear lest she should catch a cold on overexposure.
Samuel Butler
Image
Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
Samuel Butler
Image
He that complies against his will, Is of his own opinion still.
Samuel Butler
Image
Life is one long process of getting tired.
Samuel Butler
Image
A definition is the enclosing a wilderness of idea within a wall of words.
Samuel Butler
Image
Priests are not men of the world it is not intended that they should be and a University training is the one best adapted to prevent their becoming so.
Samuel Butler
Image
There are two classes [of scientists], those who want to know, and do not care whether others think they know or not, and those who do not much care about knowing, but care very greatly about being reputed as knowing.
Samuel Butler
Image
Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well.
Samuel Butler
Image
People are always good company when they are doing what they really enjoy.
Samuel Butler
Image
He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts.
Samuel Butler
Image
The only absolute morality is absolute stagnation.
Samuel Butler
Image
A drunkard would not give money to sober people. He said they would only eat it, and buy clothes and send their children to school with it.
Samuel Butler
Image
A lawyer's dream of heaven: every man reclaimed his property at the resurrection, and each tried to recover it from all his forefathers.
Samuel Butler
Image
Prayers are to men as dolls are to children. They are not without use and comfort, but it is not easy to take them very seriously.
Samuel Butler