In a Balkan country, not so many years ago, a party which had been beaten by a narrow margin in a general election retrieved its fortunes by shooting a sufficient number of the representatives of the other side to give it a majority. . . . Cromwell and Robespierre . . . acted likewise.

I do not think any reasonable person can doubt that in India, China and Japan, if the knowledge of birth control existed, the birthrate would fall very rapidly

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.

I am paid by the word, so I always write the shortest words possible.

Whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities.

Berkeley retains the merit of having shown that the existence of matter is capable of being denied without absurdity.

A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.