The challenge of abating one with a genuine ego problem is to not try to put him down. Any and all antagonization, in his mind, is merely compensated for by his own descriptions: his feelings of persecution by the envious and his ideals of worth. Arguably, the genuine ego is more of a circumstantial defense mechanism rather than a steady arrogance in need of starvation.

I am thankful when I am hungry because then I know that when I eat, the food will taste better. Life has taught me that my true contentment rests in hope, and the pleasure itself is secondary. It is self-awareness, not happiness, that maintains peace.

Tension, in the long run, is a more dangerous force than any feud known to man.

Love may be harder to find in some people, but when they do love you know it must be something marvelous.

Intelligence entails a strong mind, but genius entails a heart of a lion in tune with a strong mind.

When you have wit of your own, it's a pleasure to credit other people for theirs.

Seeing the glass as half empty is more positive than seeing it as half full. Through such a lens the only choice is to pour more. That is righteous pessimism