Wit & Wisdom

“He that best understands the world, least likes it.”

Benjamin Franklin, quoted in The New Yorker

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

W.C. Fields, quoted in the London Times

“One thing talk can’t accomplish is communication. This is because everybody’s talking too much to pay attention to what anyone is saying.”

P.J. O’Rourke, quoted in the Memphis Commercial Appeal

“Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.”

Poet Alexander Smith, quoted in Brides.com

“The most beautiful moment of love is when you have the illusion that it will last forever; the worst is when you realize that it has already lasted too long.”

Author Roberto Gervaso, quoted in The Washington Post

“We are all of us resigned to death; it’s life we aren’t resigned to.”

Author Roberto Gervaso,, quoted in Smithsonian

“There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader.”

French politician Alexandre Ledru-Rollin, quoted in ESPN.com