The most distressing thing that can happen to a prophet is to be proved wrong. The next most distressing thing is to be proved right.

We lie to ourselves in order that we may still have the excuse of ignorance, the alibi of stupidity and incomprehension, possessing which we can continue with a good conscience to commit and tolerate the most monstrous crimes.

The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.

The scent organ was playing a delightfully refreshing Herbal Capriccio - rippling arpeggios of thyme and lavender, of rosemary, basil, myrtle, tarragon; a series of daring modulations through the spice keys into ambergris; and a slow return through sandalwood, camphor, cedar and newmown hay (with occasional subtle touches of discord - a whiff of kidney pudding, the faintest suspicion of pig's dung) back to the simple aromatics with which the piece began. The final blast of thyme died away; there was a round of applause; the lights went up.

Sixty two thousand four hundred repetitions make one truth. Idiots!

It takes two to make a murder. There are born victims, born to have their throats cut, as the cut-throats are born to be hanged.

Back to culture. Yes, actually to culture. You can’t consume much if you sit still and read books.