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

The twin conceptions of sin and vindictive punishment seem to be at the root of much that is most vigorous, both in religion and politics.

If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.

Civilized people cannot fully satisfy their sexual instinct without love.

The more things a man is interested in, the more opportunities of happiness he has and the less he is at the mercy of fate, since if he loses one thing he can fall back upon another.

Dogmatism is the greatest of mental obstacles to human happiness.

Right conduct can never, except by some rare accident, be promoted by ignorance or hindered by knowledge.