Futility Closet

“Prosperity doth best discover vice, but Adversity doth best discover virtue.” — Francis Bacon

• Q is the only letter that does not appear in any U.S. state name.
• 6455 = (6⁴ – 5) × 5
• North Dakota’s record high temperature (121°F) is higher than Florida’s (109°F).
• UNNOTICEABLY contains the vowels A, E, I, O, and U in reverse order.
• “An odd thought strikes me: We shall receive no letters in the grave.” — Samuel Johnson

“Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.” — Robert Benchley

“Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.” — Abraham Lincoln

“Medicine makes people ill, mathematics makes them sad, and theology makes them sinful.” — Martin Luther

“We, on our side, are praying to Him to give us victory, because we believe we are right; but those on the other side pray to Him, look for victory, believing they are right. What must He think of us?” — Abraham Lincoln

“Honesty is praised and starves.” — Juvenal

“Contentment is natural wealth; luxury is artificial poverty.” — Socrates

“I hate all sports as rabidly as a person who likes sports hates common sense.” — H.L. Mencken

“Where there’s a will there’s a won’t.” — Ambrose Bierce