I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole.

I never deny; I never contradict; I sometimes forget.

I will not go down to posterity talking bad grammar.

If you wish to be great, you must give men new ideas, you must teach them new words, you must modify their manners, you must change their laws, you must root out prejudices, subvert convictions. Greatness no longer depends on rentals: the world is too rich; nor on pedigrees: the world is too knowing.

In England when a new character appears in our circles, the first question always is, “Who is he?” In France it is, “What is he?” In England, “How much a year?” In France, “What has he done?”