It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform - They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.

Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of a school.

Poetry is a beautiful way of spoiling prose, and the laborious art of exchanging plain sense for harmony.

Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel.

How well Shakespeare knew how to improve and exalt little circumstances, when he borrowed them from circumstantial or vulgar historians.

It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.

Life is a tragedy for those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.

Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.

Virtue knows to a farthing what it has lost by not having been vice.

We often repent of our first thoughts, and scarce ever of our second.

Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of the passions and their operations in diversified situations.

By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.

I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.

I avoid talking before the youth of the age as I would dancing before them: for if one's tongue don't move in the steps of the day, and thinks to please by its old graces, it is only an object of ridicule.

It was said of old Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that she never puts dots over her I s, to save ink.

The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.

Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acting a lie.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

The wisest prophets make sure of the event first.

Men are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.

The Methodists love your big sinners, as proper subjects to work upon.

I never found even in my juvenile hours that it was necessary to go a thousand miles in search of themes for moralizing.

The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those who feel.

Nine-tenths of the people were created so you would want to be with the other tenth.

The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.

When people will not weed their own minds they are apt to be overrun by nettles.

The world is a tragedy to those who feel but a comedy to those who think.

The curse of modern times is that almost everything does create controversy.

By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses one misses more nonsense than sense.

A tragedy can never suffer by delay a comedy may because the allusions or the manners represented in it maybe temporary.

Old friends are the great blessing of one's later years . . . They have a memory of the same events and have the same mode of thinking.

We often repent of our first thoughts, and scarce ever of our second.

Perhaps those, who, trembling most, maintain a dignity in their fate, are the bravest: resolution on reflection is real courage.

Serendipity... You will understand it better by the derivation than by the definition. I once read a silly fairy tale, called 'The Three Princes of Serendip': as their Highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of.

Being an actor is a much more structured life than being a musician.

Scouting is a game for boys under the leadership of boys under the direction of a man.

I have a certain manner of speech that is unique to me. I tried once to have my staff tweet for me, and it was a disaster! People knew right away that it wasn't me.

You want to provide for your family, of course, but you also want them to come along on the journey with you. I haven't achieved all I want to with my life, so I need to continue to push myself.

To direct actors is difficult. To direct actors in another language is more difficult, but directing non-actors in another language is one of the craziest things that I have done and one of the most rewarding experiences I have had.

I always believe that, as you start out, while you should have a big dream - a big goal - but it's also important to move step by step. So, you know, frankly, if you ask me, when I started as a management trainee in 1984, I don't know that I really thought that I would become the CEO.

Whether it's a canvas tote or Givenchy, a day bag you love is essential. It doesn't have to be a fashion It bag of the season, either.

I am awake a lot of nights.

Buy other authors' books when you go to their events. Even if you aren't going to read it. Even if you are going to give it away. Even if you aren't interested. Not just for the author but for the bookstore. It's karma and just plain good manners.

We never try and reinvent the past. We try to look forward to whats going on ... We dont have a set plan you might have ideas or a different set pieces you might use to put inside your puzzle but its like you always have to look forward to whats beyond from where you just came from.

I am intrigued with the shapes people choose as their symbols to create a language. There is within all forms a basic structure, an indication of the entire object with a minimum of lines that becomes a symbol. This is common to all languages, all people, all times.

What does it mean to a person whose identity is very wrapped up in the music she makes, if her worth is measured by how many records she sells?

The thing I was always most protective of was my mystery. I worried that if I gave too much of myself, then I would limit the characters I could fall into.