discerning choices Quotes

One of the marks of an educated man today is to know what not to read--what not to see or what not to listen to.

I soon became aware that there wasn't enough time or opportunity to kiss all the girls in the world. The best thing is to stay cool - just be choosy and wait for the right opportunity.

It is far better to be silent than merely to increase the quantity of bad books.

Accurate reading on a wide range of subjects makes the scholar; careful selection of the better makes the saint.

We're developing a new citizenry. One that will be very selective about cereals and automobiles, but won't be able to think.

Ninety percent of the difficulty in your intellectual life would never have happened if you just had better taste.

Today, with the abundance of books available, it is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read. … Feed only on the best. As John Wesley’s mother counseled him: ‘Avoid whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, … increases the authority of the body over the mind.

Style is having the courage of one's choices and the courage to say no. It's good taste and culture.

Listen. Take the best. Leave the rest.

I'm not jumping into anything fast. I'm an actor that likes to choose my work and there's an element of good taste to my work.

There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.

The essence of good taste is a sense of values, and a sense of values is the pivotal point of good living.

With books, as with companions, it is of more consequence to know which to avoid, than which to choose; for good books are as scarce as good companions...

Don't play everything (or every time); let some things go by... What you don't play can be more important than what you do.

Sophistication and lifestyle is understanding the difference between trinkets and treasures.