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 architecture
The history of art is the history of revivals. Samuel Butler on art
Life is not an exact science, it is an art. Samuel Butler on art
Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises. Samuel Butler on art
The sinews of art and literature, like those of war, are money. Samuel Butler on art
The youth of an art is, like the youth of anything else, its most interesting period. When it has come to the knowledge of good and evil it is stronger, but we care less about it. Samuel Butler on art
To give pain is the tyranny to make happy, the true empire of beauty. Samuel Butler on beauty
The best liar is he who makes the smallest amount of lying go the longest way. Samuel Butler on best
Words are not as satisfactory as we should like them to be, but, like our neighbours, we have got to live with them and must make the best and not the worst of them. Samuel Butler on best
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 on best
We all like to forgive, and love best not those who offend us least, nor who have done most for us, but those who make it most easy for us to forgive them. Samuel Butler on best
He has spent his life best who has enjoyed it most. God will take care that we do not enjoy it any more than is good for us. Samuel Butler on best
All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it. Samuel Butler on business
To himself everyone is immortal he may know that he is going to die, but he can never know that he is dead. Samuel Butler on death
If I die prematurely I shall be saved from being bored to death at my own success. Samuel Butler on death
If life must not be taken too seriously, then so neither must death. Samuel Butler on death
There is nothing which at once affects a man so much and so little as his own death. Samuel Butler on death
Those who have never had a father can at any rate never know the sweets of losing one. To most men the death of his father is a new lease of life. Samuel Butler on death
Death is only a larger kind of going abroad. Samuel Butler on death
The history of the world is the record of the weakness, frailty and death of public opinion. Samuel Butler on death