“Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.”

“There is nothing so annoying as having two people talking when you're busy interrupting.”

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”

“I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I’m not feeling so well myself.”

“Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed down-stairs one step at a time.”

“That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they don’t know nothing about it.”

“I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English―it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them―then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice.”