No one has ever used historical examples, near or remote, with the detail, precision, and directness to be found in every page of Shaw. - Jacques Barzun

Old age is like learning a new profession. And not one of your own choosing.

When all around take fundamental ideas for granted, these must be the truth. For most minds there is no comfort like it.

Shaw's emotional development was one with his intellectual strength. His path led him into the thick of the scrimmage, where more spontaneous natures defend themselves with the usual weapons of malice, humility, bad temper or conceit. But Shaw used the death ray of imperturbability. His feelings were never hurt, his envy never aroused, his conceit was a transparent fiction, he never quarreled.