Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.
Samuel ButlerRead
When a man is in doubt about this or that in his writing, it will often guide him if he asks himself how it will tell a hundred years hence.
Interpretation
Consider the long-term impact of your writing to guide your decisions.
This quote emphasizes the importance of foresight in writing. Samuel Butler suggests that when faced with uncertainty, a writer should reflect on how their words will be perceived a century later, encouraging a perspective that values timelessness and impact over immediate gratification.
In practice
A writer might use this quote to motivate students during a workshop on the importance of thoughtful writing.
Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.
To know God better is only to realize how impossible it is that we should ever know him at all. I know not which is more childish to deny him, or define him.
Academic and aristocratic people live in such an uncommon atmosphere that common sense can rarely reach them.
An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.
Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.
People care more about being thought to have taste than about being thought either good, clever or amiable.
Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable.
You must not feel persecuted and examined. Liberate yourself from the idea that people are watching you.
I get up at 7:30 and work four hours a day. Nine to twelve in the morning, five to six in the evening. Businessmen would achieve better results if they studied human metabolism. No one works well eight hours a day. No one ought to work more than four hours.
Care-charmer Sleep, son of the sable Night, Brother to Death, in silent darkness born; Relive my languish, and restore the light.
One must be reasonable in one's demands on life. For myself, all that I ask is: (1) accurate information; (2) coherent knowledge; (3) deep understanding; (4) infinite loving wisdom; (5) no more kidney stones, please.
The business (and person) who tries to be everything to everyone ends up being nothing to anyone.
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