At the age of eleven, I began Euclid, with my brother as my tutor. ... I had not imagined that there was anything so delicious in the world. After I had learned the fifth proposition, my brother told me that it was generally considered difficult, but I had found no difficulty whatsoever. This was the first time it had dawned on me that I might have some intelligence.

Curious learning not only makes unpleasant things less unpleasant but also makes pleasant things more pleasant.

All knowledge, we feel, must be built up upon our instinctive beliefs; and if these are rejected, nothing is left.

I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment.

The key to happiness is accepting one unpleasant reality every day.

Plato has dramatic strength ... but is quite unaware of the strength of the argument against his position ... and allows himself to be grossly unfair in arguing against it.

Politics is largely governed by sententious platitudes which are devoid of truth