“Philosophy consists very largely of one philosopher arguing that all others are jackasses. He usually proves it, and I should add that he usually proves that he is one himself.” — H.L. Mencken

“Love, friendship, respect, do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” — Anton Chekhov

“Whoever in discussion adduces authority uses not intellect but rather memory.” — Leonardo

“Wandering in a vast forest at night, I have only a faint light to guide me. A stranger appears and says to me: ‘My friend, you should blow out your candle in order to find your way more clearly.’ This stranger is a theologian.” — Diderot

“Lord Dawson was not a good doctor. King George V himself told me that he would never have died had he had another doctor.” — Margot Asquith, to the young Lord David Cecil

“Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.” — Quintilian

“Nearly every example of faulty reasoning that has been published is accompanied by the phrase ‘of course’ or its equivalent.” — Donald E. Knuth

“A highbrow is a person educated beyond his intelligence.” — Brander Matthews

“To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.” — Bertrand Russell

“There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.” — George Bernard Shaw

“Leave something to wish for, so as not to be miserable from very happiness.” — Baltasar Gracián