The Note Books of Samuel Butler Quotes

“It is the function of vice to keep virtue within reasonable bounds.”

― Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

topic:virtue

“The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.”

― Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

topic:foolishnesspleasure

“All philosophies, if you ride them home, are nonsense; but some are greater nonsense than others.”

― Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

topic:philosophy

“Silence is not always tact and it is tact that is golden, not silence.”

― Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

topic:silence

“You see, poetry resembles metaphysics, one does not mind one's own, but one does not like any one else's.”

― Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

topic:poetry

“We pay a person the compliment of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to him.”

― Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

topic:lie

“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, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler

topic:comfort