The surest way to work up a crusade in favor of some good cause is to promise people they will have a chance of maltreating someone. To be able to destroy with good conscience, to be able to behave badly and call your bad behavior 'righteous indignation' — this is the height of psychological luxury, the most delicious of moral treats.

Folly is often more cruel in the consequences than malice can be in the intent.

To write fiction, one needs a whole series of inspirations about people in an actual environment, and then a whole lot of work on the basis of those inspirations.

But every one belongs to every one else

Specialized meaninglessness has come to be regarded, in certain circles, as a kind of hallmark of true science.

People will insist on treating the mons Veneris as though it were Mount Everest. Too silly!

Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism.