Some tribes [of monkeys] have taken to washing potatoes in the river before eating them, others have not. Sometimes migrating read more

Some tribes [of monkeys] have taken to washing potatoes in the river before eating them, others have not. Sometimes migrating groups of potato-washers meet non-washers, and the two groups watch each other's strange behavior with apparent bewilderment. But unlike the inhabitants of Lilliput, who fought holy crusades over the question at which end to break the egg, the potato-washing monkeys do not go to war with the non-washers, because the poor creatures have no language which would enable them to declare washing a diving commandment and eating unwashed potatoes a deadly heresy.

The acquiring of culture is the development of an avid hunger for knowledge and beauty.

The acquiring of culture is the development of an avid hunger for knowledge and beauty.

Society is like a large piece of frozen water; and skating well
is the great art of social life.

Society is like a large piece of frozen water; and skating well
is the great art of social life.

Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other "sins" are invented nonsense.

Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other "sins" are invented nonsense.

The desire to be different from the people we live with is sometimes the result of our rejection- real or read more

The desire to be different from the people we live with is sometimes the result of our rejection- real or imagined- by them.

A man that would expect to train lobsters to fly in a year is called a lunatic; but a man read more

A man that would expect to train lobsters to fly in a year is called a lunatic; but a man that thinks men can be turned into angels by an election is a reformer and remains at large.

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.

Widespread caffeine use explains a lot about the twentieth century.

Widespread caffeine use explains a lot about the twentieth century.

Human civilization is not something achieved against nature; it is rather the outcome of the working of the innate qualities read more

Human civilization is not something achieved against nature; it is rather the outcome of the working of the innate qualities of man.