Indolence and melancholy: Each generates the other. If one can speak of such feeble passions as generating anything.

A man's duty? To be ready -- with rifle or rood -- to defend his home when the showdown comes.

Every moment is precious. And precarious.

A life without tragedy would not be worth living.

We judge individual man and women as we do nations and races -- by the character of their achievement and by their achievement of character.

A venturesome minority will always be eager to set off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks, for godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches - that is the right and privilege of any free American.

In social affairs, I'm an optimist. I really do believe that our military- industrial civilization will soon collapse.