Religion is the reaction of human nature to its search for God.

Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. "Necessity is the mother of invention" is a silly proverb. "Necessity is the mother of futile dodges" is much closer to the truth. The basis of growth of modern invention is science, and science is almost wholly the outgrowth of pleasurable intellectual curiosity.

If you have had your attention directed to the novelties in thought in your own lifetime, you will have observed that almost all really new ideas have a certain aspect of foolishness when they are first produced, and almost any idea which jogs you out of your current abstractions may be better than nothing.

Seek simplicity but distrust it.

The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment.

You cannot be wise without some basis of knowledge, but you may easily acquire knowledge and remain bare of wisdom.

The defense of morals is the battle-cry which best rallies stupidity against change.