A good composer does not imitate; he steals.

A good composer does not imitate; he steals.

Truth and History involve nothing more than convincing the masses that you are right.

Truth and History involve nothing more than convincing the masses that you are right.

Elegance of language may not be in the power of all of us; but simplicity and straight forwardness are. Write read more

Elegance of language may not be in the power of all of us; but simplicity and straight forwardness are. Write much as you would speak; speak as you think. If with your inferior, speak no coarser than usual; if with your superiors, no finer. Be what you say; and, within the rules of prudence, say what you are.

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

Once conform, once do what others do because they do it, and a kind of lethargy steals over all the read more

Once conform, once do what others do because they do it, and a kind of lethargy steals over all the finer senses of the soul.

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.

It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will read more

It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.

In terms of the game theory, we might say the universe is so constituted as to maximize play. The best read more

In terms of the game theory, we might say the universe is so constituted as to maximize play. The best games are not those in which all goes smoothly and steadily toward a certain conclusion, but those in which the outcome is always in doubt. Similarly, the geometry of life is designed to keep us at the point of maximum tension between certainty and uncertainty, order and chaos. Every important call is a close one. We survive and evolve by the skin of our teeth. We really wouldn't want it any other way.

The hardest part has been maintaining a small head -- remaining down to earth. So many people try to make read more

The hardest part has been maintaining a small head -- remaining down to earth. So many people try to make you more than you are. This business has changed a lot of good people and a lot of good families, and I don't want that to happen to me.