Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself. Samuel Butler on work
God was satisfied with his own work, and that is fatal. Samuel Butler on work
Work with some men is as besetting a sin as idleness. Samuel Butler on work
Think of and look at your work as though it were done by your enemy. I you look at it to admire it, you are lost. Samuel Butler on work
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all. Samuel Butler on valentines day
Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have. Samuel Butler on analysis
All animals but men know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it -and they do enjoy it as much as man and other circumstances will allow it. Samuel Butler on animals
There is no bore like a clever bore. Samuel Butler on bore
All progress is based upon the universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income. Samuel Butler on change
God cannot alter the past, that is why he is obliged to connive at the existence of historians. Samuel Butler on history
I do not mind lying, but I hate inaccuracy. Samuel Butler on honesty
The best liar is he who makes the smallest amount of lying go the longest way. Samuel Butler on honesty
Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well. Samuel Butler on honesty
Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete a character. Samuel Butler on life
All progress is based upon a universal innate desire of every organism to live beyond its income. Samuel Butler on progress