As soon as we abandon our own reason, and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles.

Much that passes as idealism is disguised hatred or disguised love of power.

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.

It is because modern education is so seldom inspired by a great hope that it so seldom achieves great results.

I have found, for example, that if I have to write upon sum rather difficult topic, the best plan is to think about it with very great intensity-the greatest intensity of which I am capable-for a few hours or days, and at the end of that time give orders, so to speak (to my subconscious mind) that the work is to proceed underground. After some months I return consciously to the topic and find that the work has been done.

Ideas and principles that do harm are as a rule, though not always, cloaks for evil passions.

The qualities most needed are charity and tolerance, not some form of fanatical faith such as is offered to us by the various rampant isms