Politically Obama's amazing streak of self-destructing opponents who have lain beneath his feet during his unlikely political career appears to be holding.

There are two sorts of curiosity - the momentary and the permanent. The momentary is concerned with the odd appearance on the surface of things. The permanent is attracted by the amazing and consecutive life that flows on beneath the surface of things.

I am very averse to bringing myself forward in print but as my account will only appear as an appendage to a former production and as it will be confined to such topics as have connection with my authorship alone I can hardly accuse myself of a personal intrusion.

If we were to wipe out insects alone on this planet the rest of life and humanity with it would mostly disappear from the land. Within a few months.

The artist alone sees spirits. But after he has told of their appearing to him everybody sees them.

I'm never overawed by a situation and I think that's because I've always looked several years older than I am. So because people were treating me like I was 40 when I was 29 I've always felt in control of a situation. People used to say when you're 32 you'll look 32. I'm still waiting for that moment where my age catches up with my appearance.

Probably the happiest period in life most frequently is in middle age when the eager passions of youth are cooled and the infirmities of age not yet begun as we see that the shadows which are at morning and evening so large almost entirely disappear at midday.

Age appears to be best in four things old wood best to burn old wine to drink old friends to trust and old authors to read.