A man who puts a question should never fail to know the answer in advance.

When he pulls the trigger of a question, as when he pulls the trigger of a gun, he must look out for the kick.

Many a perfect situation had been destroyed by the wrong question asked in the dark.

Senator Gruff begged permission to tell a story.
"Once a good and optimistic dominie," said Senator Gruff, "was being shown through Sing Sing Prison.

In his company went a pessimist who took darkling views of humanity in the lump, and particularly what fractions of the lump had gotten themselves locked up.