“War in fact is becoming contemptible, and ought to be put down by the great nations of Europe, just as we put down a vulgar mob.”

A sceptical dismissal of organised violence as unworthy of civilised states · Thoughts in my Garden

• Civilization
• Scepticism
• War

“Death a friend that alone can bring the peace his treasures cannot purchase, and remove the pain his physicians cannot cure.”

Framing death as a merciful release beyond the reach of wealth or medicine · The Village Comedy

• Acceptance
• Death
• Peace

“Hypochondriacs squander large sums of time in search of nostrums by which they vainly hope they may get more time to squander.”

A dry comment on the self-defeating anxiety of the health-obsessed · The Village Comedy

• Anxiety
• Health
• Time

“There are two classes of men; those who are content to yield to circumstances and who play whist; those who aim to control circumstances, and who play Chess.”

Contrasting passive acceptance with active mastery of life's conditions · Attic Salt

• Action
• Attitude
• Control

“The true way to render age vigorous is to prolong the youth of the mind.”

Advocating mental freshness as the key to vitality in later life · The Village Comedy

• Age
• Mind
• Vitality

“A man is as old as he's feeling, a woman is as old as she looks.”

A wry observation on the differing measures of age for men and women · The Unknown Quantity (as commonly attributed)

• Age
• Wisdom