Walter Bagehot

Writers, like teeth, are divided into incisors and grinders.

We see but one aspect of our neighbor, as we see but one side of the moon; in either case there is also a dark half, which is unknown to us. We all come down to dinner, but each has a room to himself.

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.

Dullness in matters of government is a good sign, and not a bad one - in particular, dullness in parliamentary government is a test of its excellence, an indication of its success.

A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

The best reason why Monarchy is a strong government is, that it is an intelligible government. The mass of mankind understand it, and they hardly anywhere in the world understand any other.

Progress would not have been the rarity it is if the early food had not been the late poison.

The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything.

Poverty is an anomaly to rich people: it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell.

The best reason why monarchy is a strong government is that it is an intelligible government: the mass of mankind understand it and they hardly anywhere in the world understand any other.

To a great experience one thing is essential - an experiencing nature.

The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. It proceeds from not knowing what is going on in other people's minds.

The real essence of work is concentrated energy.

Business is really more agreeable than pleasure it interests the whole mind . . . more deeply. But it does not look as if it did.

The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do

The greatest please in life is doing what people say you cannot do.