The essence of religion, in my view, is the thirst for an end higher than natural ends.

A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.

To love is to be vulnerable.

People blush at praise--not only praise of their bodies, but praise of anything that is theirs.

Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God.

The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers face to face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him. But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest student will be able to understand, if not all, yet a very great deal of what Plato said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on Platonism.

Above all, do not attempt to use science (I mean, the real sciences) as a defence against Christianity. They will positively encourage him to think about realities he can’t touch and see.