The vigour of civilised societies is preserved by the widespread sense that high aims are worth while. Vigorous societies harbour a certain extravagance of objectives, so that men wander beyond the safe provision of personal gratifications. All strong interests easily become impersonal, the love of a good job well done. There is a sense of harmony about such an accomplishment, the Peace brought by something worth while. Such personal gratification arises from aim beyond personality.

Religion is the last refuge of human savagery.

One main factor in the upward trend of animal life has been the power of wandering.

The Universe is vast. Nothing is more curious than the self-satisfied dogmatism with which mankind at each period of its history cherishes the delusion of the finality of existing modes of knowledge. Skeptics and believers are alike. At this moment scientists and skeptics are the leading dogmatists. Advance in detail is admitted; fundamental novelty is barred. This dogmatic common sense is the death of philosophic adventure.

An open mind is all very well in its way, but it ought not to be so open that there is no keeping anything in or out of it.

The task of a university is the creation of the future, so far as rational thought and civilized modes of appreciation can affect the issue.

The tragedy of the world is that those who are imaginative have but slight experience, and those who are experienced have feeble imaginations.