The brain is a commodity used to fertilize ideas.

Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.

Life is a paradox. Every truth has its counterpart which contradicts it; and every philosopher supplies the logic his own undoing.

I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, and fear. I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural . . to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid.

So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.

Knowledge is the distilled essence of our institutions, corroborated by experience.

Secrets are things we give to others to keep for us.