What is an optimist? The man who says, "It's worse everywhere else. We're better off than the rest of the world. We've been lucky." He is happy with things as they are and he doesn't torment himself. What is a pessimist? The man who says, "Things are fine everywhere but here. Everyone else is better off than we are. We're the only ones who've had a bad break." He torments himself continually.

Every human act can be disguised with a coating of gilt.

He who knows how to be content will be content with little.

Why can't you understand? The stars fall down now and then. The gaps have to be filled.

The one good thing about repeating your mistakes is that you know when to cringe

... any country that is not careful can be seized.

The thoughts of a prisoner - they're not free either. They keep returning to the same things.