The quotations of

George Bernard Shaw

Irish playwright, critic, and polemicist

1856–1950

99 quotes, most often on Love, Morality and Clever Jabs.

This is the true joy in life⁠—being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances.
Man and Superman (1903), p. xxxi
Imagine what you desire. Will what you imagine. Create what you will.
- Motivation & Goals
A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected.
- Morality
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
Everybody’s Political What’s What (1944), Ch. 30, p. 256
- Government
The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it.
- Debate
- Thinking
Every man over forty is a scoundrel.
Man and Superman (1903), Maxims for Revolutionists, p. 242 Stray Sayings
- Age
It is most unwise for people in love to marry.
- Marriage
In the arts of life man invents nothing; but in the arts of death he outdoes Nature herself, and produces by chemistry and machinery all the slaughter of plague, pestilence, and famine.
Man and Superman (1903), The Devil
- Life & Death
- Technology
When we know what God is, we shall be gods ourselves.
- God
Few people think more than two or three times a year. I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week.
- Thinking
A mind of the calibre of mine cannot derive its nutriment from cows.
- Food
A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.
- Debate
I know of only one duty, and that is to love.
- Love
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
- Democracy
The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them.
Man and Superman (1903), p. 37

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