The institution of representative government to us seems an essential part of democracy, but the ancients never thought of it. Its immense merit was that it enabled a large constituency to exert indirect power, and thus made possible the distribution of political responsibility throughout the great states of modern times.

We must be sceptical even of our scepticism.

The main thing needed to make men happy is intelligence.

What hunger is in relation to food, zest is in relation to life.

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

What has human happiness to do with morals? The object of morals is not to make people happy.

[Industrialism's soon diminishing] capacity to supply human needs could be prevented if men exercised any restraint or foresight in their present frenzied exploitation.