An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup. - H. L. Mencken
I'm all in favor of the democratic principle that one idiot is as good as one genius, but I draw the line when someone takes the next step and concludes that two idiots are better than one genius. - Leo Szilard
The American white relegates the black to the rank of shoeshine boy; and he concludes from this that the black is good for nothing but shining shoes. - George Bernard Shaw
The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them. - Henry David Thoreau
On plenty of days the writer can write three or four pages, and on plenty of other days he concludes he must throw them away. - Annie Dillard