It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one's time in looking for the sacred Emperor in the low-class tea shops.

There are few situations in life that cannot be resolved promptly, and to the satisfaction of all concerned, by either suicide, a bag of gold, or thrusting a despised antagonist over a precipice on a dark night.

Although there exist many thousand subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot meet a cripple without talking about feet.

The province of philosophy is not so much to prevent calamities befalling as to demonstrate that they are blessings when they have taken place.

Where the road bends abruptly, take short steps.

He who thinks he is raising a mound may only in reality be digging a pit.

An expression of no-encouragement.