The inner censor of the mind of the true believer completes the work of the public censor; his self-discipline is as tyrannical as the obedience imposed by the regime; he terrorizes his own conscience into submission;he carries his private Iron Curtain inside his skull, to protect his illusions against the intrusion of reality.

Aggressiveness is not the main trouble with the human species, but rather an excess capacity for fanatical devotion.

To want to meet an author because you like his books is as ridiculous as wanting to meet the goose because you like pate de foie gras.

...the crimes of violence committed for selfish, personal motives are historically insignificant compared to those committed ad majorem gloriam Dei, out of a self-sacrificing devotion to the flag, a leader, a religeous faith or political conviction.

There is only one prospect worse than being chained to an intolerable existence: The nightmare of a botched attempt to end it.

Honor is decency without vanity.

In creating the human brain, evolution has wildly overshot the mark.