“No other man-made device since the shields and lances of the ancient knights fulfills a man's ego like an automobile.”

“The American ash from which bats are made has an unusually high strength-to-weight ratio. Ash was celebrated in medieval times as the only proper wood from which to construct the lances of knights errant; an ash lance was light enough to carry and wield and strong enough to impale the opposition.”

“I like the moment when I break a man's ego”

“Thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that thou were never matched of earthly knight's hand. And thou were the courteoust knight that ever bare shield. And thou were the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse. And thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever loved woman. And thou were the kindest man that ever struck with sword. And thou were the goodliest person that ever came among press of knights. And thou were the meekest man and the gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies. And thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.”

“Locking spear by spear, shield against shield at the base, so buckler
leaned on buckler, helmet on helmet, man against man.”

“Now, he no longer promises others the fulfillment of his duties, but promises himself the fulfillment of man.”

“The Saint is a man who disciplines his ego. The Sage is a man who rids himself of his ego.”

“It is ego that makes a man.”

“The free-lance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.”

“Let a man find himself, in distinction from others, on top of two wheels with a chain — at least in a poor country like Russia — and his vanity begins to swell out like his tires. In America it takes an automobile to produce this effect.”