Probably no man ever had a friend he did not dislike a little; we are all so constituted by nature that no one can possibly entirely approve of us.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Friendship
The most destructive criticism is indifference.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Boredom
The most agreeable thing in life is worthy accomplishment. It is not possible that the idle tramp is as contented as the farmers along the road who own their own farms, and whose credit is good at the bank in town. When the tramps get together at night, they abuse the farmers, but do not get as much satisfaction out of it as do the farmers who abuse the tramps. The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Satisfaction, Arguments, Argument
Nothing is wonderful when you get used to it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Familiarity
I believe in grumbling; it is the politest form of fighting known.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Complaining, Complaints, Pessimism
The underdog often starts the fight, and occasionally the upper dog deserves to win.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Fighting, Fight
Any man who will look into his heart and honestly write what he sees there, will find plenty of readers.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Writing
None of us can boast about the morality of our ancestors. The record does not show that Adam and Eve were ever married.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Ancestry, Ancestors
Some people never have anything except ideals.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Ideals
Many people would be more truthful were it not for their uncontrollable desire to talk.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Truth
Every successful man I have heard of has done the best he could with conditions as he found them…
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Success, Success & Failure
When a man says money can do anything, that settles it. He hasn’t any.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Money
Half the promises people say were never kept, were never made.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Promises
A modest man is usually admired, if people ever hear of him.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Humility, Modesty
A loafer never works except when there is a fire; then he will carry out more furniture than anybody.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Motivation
As a man handles his troubles during the day, so he goes to bed at night a General, Captain, or Private.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Difficulties, Difficulty
The greatest thing in the world is for a man to be able to do something well, and say nothing about it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Doing
When people hear good music, it makes them homesick for something they never had, and never will have.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Music
The only way to amuse some people is to slip and fall on an icy pavement.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Pleasure
When a friend is in trouble, don’t annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Trouble, Friends, Friendship
A young man is a theory, an old man is a fact.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Theory, Assumptions
I declare my belief that it is not your duty to do anything that is not to your own interest. Whenever it is unquestionably your duty to do a thing, then it will benefit you to perform that duty.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Duty
Most of us are either too thin to enjoy eating, or too fat to enjoy walking.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Eating, Food
Virtue must be valuable, if men and women of all degrees pretend to have it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Virtue
One of the surprising things in this world is the respect a worthless man has for himself.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Respectability, Respect, Self Respect
Friends are like a pleasant park where you wish to go; while you may enjoy the flowers, you may not eat them.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Friendship, Courtesy
At first a woman doesn’t want anything but a husband, but as soon as she gets one, she wants everything else in the world.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Husbands
Fishing seems to be the favorite form of loafing.
—E. W. Howe
No man would listen to you talk if he didn’t know it was his turn next.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Listening
Half the unhappiness in the world is due to the failure of plans which were never reasonable, and often impossible.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Realistic Expectations
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Thomas Bailey Aldrich American Writer
- Kurt Vonnegut American Novelist
- Booth Tarkington American Novelist
- Josiah Gilbert Holland American Editor, Novelist
- William Dean Howells American Writer, Critic
- Toni Morrison American Novelist
- Arthur Brisbane American Editor
- William Allen White American Editor
- Ken Kesey American Novelist
- Ayn Rand Russian-born American Novelist
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