Samuel Butler

All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.

I reckon being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill and is not obliged to work till one is better.

Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

No grand idea was ever born in a conference, but a lot of foolish ideas have died there.

The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat, or takes in its milk, on the principle that it is cheaper to do this than to keep a cow. So it is, but the milk is more likely to be watered.

'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have lost at all.
- All from Samuel Butler, 1835 - 1902

About: Samuel Butler was born in Langar Rectory, near Bingham, Nottinghamshire, England on 4 Dec in 1835. His father and grandfather had been Anglican clergy, and he was schooled for that career, but during what we would call an internship he lost his faith. Corresponding with his father about his doubts led to such a rift with his family that he moved to New Zealand and raised sheep for five years before returning to London. He wrote the satirical novel Erewhon (nowhere spelled backwards) anonymously, it was well regarded and there was great surprise when the unknown Butler finally acknowledged it.