Shaw's emotional development was one with his intellectual strength. His path led him into the thick of the scrimmage, where more spontaneous natures defend themselves with the usual weapons of malice, humility, bad temper or conceit. But Shaw used the death ray of imperturbability. His feelings were never hurt, his envy never aroused, his conceit was a transparent fiction, he never quarreled.

Seeing clearly within himself and always able to dodge around the ends of any position, including his own, Shaw assumed from the start the dual role of prophet…

No one has ever used historical examples, near or remote, with the detail, precision, and directness to be found in every page of Shaw.

Like Rousseau, whom he resembles even more than he resembles Voltaire, Shaw never gave a social form to his assertiveness, never desired to arrive and to assim…

I'm not going to be hardened by these people, to these things, I'm not going to let them destroy my feelings or my emotions.

I haven't been wounded, but I can still feel that hit. I will not tolerate such behaviour.

I was the only calm one in the house. You see I've been shot at by experts.