Lapham’s Quarterly

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them.

The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.

Of troubles none is greater than to be robbed of one’s native land.

Nothing is more narrow-minded than chauvinism or racial hatred. To me all men are equal; there are flatheads everywhere and I despise them all equally.

When you name yourself, you always name another.

Some of us would be greatly astonished to learn the reasons why others respect us.

Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.

We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.

The noblest kind of retribution is not to become like your enemy.