Nothing is so easy as to deceive one's self; for what we wish, that we readily believe; but such expectations are often inconsistent with the real state of things.

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots - suspicion.

There is a great deal of wishful thinking in such cases it is the easiest thing of all to deceive ones self.

The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.

Since we are not yet fully comfortable with the idea that people from the next village are as human as ourselves, it is presumptuous in the extreme to suppose we could ever look at sociable, tool-making creatures who are from other evolutionary paths and see not beasts, but brothers, not rivals, but fellow pilgrims journeying to the shrine of intelligence...The difference... is not in the creature judged, but in the creature judging.

What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.

The man who has received a benefit ought always to remember it, but he who has granted it ought to forget the fact at once.