The man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Character
A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Life
Stowed away in a Montreal lumber roomO God! O Montreal!
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Religion
The Discobolus is put here because he is vulgar — He has neither vest nor pants with which to cover his limbs.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Art
Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Life
Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Literature
Life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a razor.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Life
There can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one mind, but hate each other out and out an through.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Philosophy
Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who traveled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy. Many cities did he visit, and many were the nations with whose manners and customs he was acquainted; moreover he suffered much by sea while trying to save his own life and bring his men safely home.
— Samuel Butler (novelist)
Literature