Austin O'Malley (author)

thumb|Those that think it permissible to tell white lies soon grow color-blind. Austin O'Malley (October 1, 1858 – February 26, 1932) was an American ophthalmologist and a professor of English literature at the University of Notre Dame. He was the author of a book of aphorisms. Quotes Keystones of Thought (1914) New York: The Devin-Adair Co., 1920 [1914, 1915] Happiness is the harvest of a quiet eye. p. 9 Memory is a crazy woman that hoards colored rags and throws away food. p. 10 The worst misfortune that can happen to an ordinary man is to have an extraordinary father. p. 16 The statesman shears the sheep, the politician skins them. p. 18 The fact that you have been knocked down is interesting, but the length of time you remained down is important. p. 21 The best blood will at some time get into a fool or a mosquito. p. 27 An essential quality of beauty is aloofness. p. 37 Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you. p. 42 Before you beat a child, be sure you yourself are not the cause of the offense. p. 68 If you keep your eyes so fixed on Heaven that you never look at the Earth, you will stumble into Hell. p. 70 Reason clears and plants the wilderness of the imagination to harvest the wheat of art. p. 85 The smaller the head the bigger the dream. p. 89 Every April God rewrites the book of Genesis. p. 91 After thirty-five a man begins to have thoughts about women; before that age he has feelings. p. 95 In levying taxes and in shearing sheep it is well to stop when you get down to the skin. p. 97 Practical prayer is harder on the soles of your shoes than on the knees of your trousers. p. 99 Show me a genuine case of platonic friendship, and I shall show you two old or homely faces. p. 103 Those that think it permissible to tell white lies soon grow color-blind. p. 107 A home-made friend wears longer than one you buy in the market. p. 107 When you are dealing with a child, keep all your wits about you, and sit on the floor. p. 110 Nations die first in the big cities. p. 111 A pint of whiskey can wash away all the blood of Calvary. p. 130 The most dangerous savages live in cities. p. 151 The Devil is not afraid to sit on an altar. p. 154 A hole is nothing at all, but you can break your neck in it. p. 157 Hope is the shadow of faith. p. 158 It was a poor man that said God shows His contempt for wealth by the kind of persons He selects to receive it. p. 174 If you keep your mouth shut you will never put your foot in it. p. 192 Why is the word for tongue feminine in Greek, Latin, Gaelic, Italian, Spanish, French, and German? p. 192 External links Norman Lockridge (ed.) World's Wit and Wisdom (New York: Biltmore Publishing Co., 1945 [The Black Hawk Press, 1936]), pp. 478–82 Category:1858 births Category:1932 deaths Category:Physicians from Pennsylvania Category:University of Notre Dame faculty