“Year-end financial statements … express a truth about office life which is no less irrefutable—yet also, in the end, no less irrelevant or irritating—than an evolutionary biologist’s proud reminder that the purpose of existence lies in the propagation of our genes.”

“Our savior will resurrect us,” said Peggy, “but I haven’t noticed that Christians end up any less dead at the end of life than heathens.”

“The contrivances of nature surpass the contrivances of art, in the complexity, subtlety, and curiosity of the mechanism; and still more, if possible, do they go beyond them in number and variety; yet in a multitude of cases, are not less evidently mechanical, not less evidently contrivances, not less evidently accommodated to their end, or suited to their office than are the most perfect production of human ingenuity.”

“There is now less flogging in our great schools than formerly, but then less is learned there; so that what the boys get at one end they lose at the other.”

“They are more than men at the outset of their battles; at the end they are less than the women.”

“The ugliest truth, in the end, was still better than the prettiest of lies.”

“We are taking our four little children, and I never need anyone to remind me that they need their breakfast... dinner... supper. And I cannot imagine that our heavenly Father is less able or less willing to remember His children’s needs, when He sends them forth to the end of the earth about His business.”

“She didn’t know which she liked less, having people tell lies about her or having people know the truth.”

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

“Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”