Lying is like alcoholism. You are always recovering.

Lying is like alcoholism. You are always recovering.

The most common lie is that which one lies to himself; lying to others is relatively an exception.

The most common lie is that which one lies to himself; lying to others is relatively an exception.

They who lack talent expect things to happen without effort. They ascribe failure to a lack of inspiration or ability, read more

They who lack talent expect things to happen without effort. They ascribe failure to a lack of inspiration or ability, or to misfortune, rather than to insufficient application. At the core of every true talent there is an awareness of the difficulties inherent in any achievement, and the confidence that by persistence and patience something worthwhile will be realized. Thus talent is a species of vigor.

Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the read more

Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.

It is easier to discover a deficiency in individuals, in states, and in Providence, than to see their real import read more

It is easier to discover a deficiency in individuals, in states, and in Providence, than to see their real import and value.

Fear of error which everything recalls to me at every moment of the flight of my ideas, this mania for read more

Fear of error which everything recalls to me at every moment of the flight of my ideas, this mania for control, makes men prefer reason's imagination to the imagination of the senses. And yet it is always the imagination alone which is at work.

Anger cannot be dishonest.

Anger cannot be dishonest.

You win only if you aren't afraid to lose.

You win only if you aren't afraid to lose.

Is suffering so very serious? I have come to doubt it. It may be quite childish, a sort of undignified read more

Is suffering so very serious? I have come to doubt it. It may be quite childish, a sort of undignified pastime -- I'm referring to the kind of suffering a man inflicts on a woman or a woman on a man. It's extremely painful. I agree that it's hardly bearable. But I very much fear that this sort of pain deserves no consideration at all. It's no more worthy of respect than old age or illness.