If one man offers you democracy and another offers you a bag of grain, at what stage of starvation do you prefer the grain to the vote?

Science is what we know, and philosophy is what we don't know.

When we look at a rock what we are seeing is not the rock, but the effect of the rock upon us.

To be out of harmony with one's surroundings is of course a misfortune, but it is not always a misfortune to be avoided at all costs. Where the environment is stupid or prejudiced or cruel, it is a sign of merit to be out of harmony with it.

It has become a commonplace that aggressiveness also often has its roots in fear. I am inclined to think that this theory has been pushed too far. [...] The type of aggressiveness that is the outcome of timidity is not, I think, that which inspires great leaders; the great leaders, I should say, have an exceptional self-confidence which is not only on the surface, but penetrates deep into the subconscious.

One of the most painful circumstances of recent advances in science is that each one makes us know less than we thought we did

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