Quotes from Arthur Helps

Almost all human affairs are tedious. Everything is too long. Visits, dinners, concerts, plays, speeches, pleadings, essays, sermons, are too long. Pleasure and business labour equally under this defect, or, as I should rather say, this fatal superabundance.

The living together for three long, rainy days in the country has done more to dispel love than all the perfidies in love that have ever been committed.

It has always appeared to me, that there is so much to be done in this world, that all self-inflicted suffering which cannot be turned to good account for others, is a loss - a loss, if you may so express it, to the spiritual world.

Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.

Tolerance is the only real test of civilization.

It takes a great man to make a great listener

Do not be deceived into thinking that how a man acts is the full picture.

Man ceased to be an ape, vanquished the ape, on the day the first book was written.

No man who has not sat in the assemblies of men can know the light, odd and uncertain ways in which decisions are often arrived at.

Alas! it is not the child but the boy that generally survives in the man.

No man has ever praised to persons equally-and pleased them both.

An official man is always an official man, and has a wild belief in the value of Reports.

The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.

Extremely foolish advice is likely to be uttered by those who are looking at the laboring vessel from the land.

We all admire the wisdom of people who come to us for advice.

Experience is the extract of suffering.

Remember that in giving any reason at all for refusing, you lay some foundation for a future request.