In a war everybody always knows all about Switzerland, in peace times it is just Switzerland but in war time it is the only country that everybody has confidence in, everybody.
Gertrude Stein

In France one must adapt oneself to the fragrance of a urinal.
Gertrude Stein

In the United States there is more space where nobody is than where anybody is. That is what makes America what it is.
Gertrude Stein

Is it worse to be scared than to be bored, that is the question.
Gertrude Stein

It is always a mistake to be plain-spoken.
Gertrude Stein

It is awfully important to know what is and what is not your business.
Gertrude Stein

It is extraordinary that when you are acquainted with a whole family you can forget about them.
Gertrude Stein

It is extraordinary that whole populations have no projects for the future, none at all. It certainly is extraordinary, but it is certainly true.
Gertrude Stein

It is funny that men who are supposed to be scientific cannot get themselves to realise the basic principle of physics, that action and reaction are equal and opposite, that when you persecute people you always rouse them to be strong and stronger.
Gertrude Stein

It is funny the two things most men are proudest of is the thing that any man can do and doing does in the same way, that is being drunk and being the father of their son.
Gertrude Stein

It is natural not to care about a sister certainly not when she is four years older and grinds her teeth at night.
Gertrude Stein

It is natural to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes to that siren until she allures us to our death.
Gertrude Stein

It is not what France gave you but what it did not take from you that was important.
Gertrude Stein

It is so friendly so simply friendly and though inevitable not a sadness and though occurring not a shock.
Gertrude Stein

It is the soothing thing about history that it does repeat itself.
Gertrude Stein

It is very easy to love alone.
Gertrude Stein

It takes a lot of time to be a genius, you have to sit around so much doing nothing, really doing nothing.
Gertrude Stein

Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to me an existence and has a stake in what happens.
Gertrude Stein

Just before she died she asked, What is the answer? No answer came. She laughed and said, In that case, what is the question? Then she died.
Gertrude Stein

Let me listen to me and not to them.
Gertrude Stein