Aristotle and Plato considered Greeks so innately superior to barbarians that slavery is justified so long as the master is Greek and the slave barbarian.

We may often do as we please - but we cannot please as we please.

Democracy is the process by which people choose the man who'll get the blame.

All human activity is prompted by desire.

Official morality has always been oppressive and negative: it has said "thou shalt not," and has not troubled to investigate the effect of activities not forbidden by the code.

With civilized men..., it is, I think, chiefly love of excitement which makes the populace applaud when war breaks out; the emotion is exactly the same as at a football match, although the results are sometimes somewhat more serious.

To save the world requires faith and courage: faith in reason, and courage to proclaim what reason shows to be true.