Now you understand the Oriental passion for tea, said Japhy. Remember that book I told you about the first sip is joy, the second is gladness, the third is serenity, the fourth is madness, the fifth is ecstasy

Men do not understand books until they have a certain amount of life, or at any rate no man understands a deep book, until he has seen and lived at least part of its contents

For what is a poem but a hazardous attempt at self-understanding it is the deepest part of autobiography

Love is saying I feel differently instead of You're wrong

A kindly gesture bestowed by us on an animal arouses prodigies of understanding and gratitude

When a nation gives birth to a man who is able to produce a great thought, another is born who is able to understand and admire it

What the United States does best is to understand itself. What it does worst is understand others

A person of definite character and purpose who comprehends our way of thought is sure to exert power over us. He cannot altogether be resisted; because, if he understands us, he can make us understand him, through the word, the look, or other symbol

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving

If you want to truly understand something, try to change it