The nature of a society is largely determined by the direction in which talent and ambition flow - by the tilt of the social landscape.

It is always safe to assume that people are more subtle and less sensitive than they seem.

Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains.

The education explosion is producing a vast number of people who want to live significant, important lives but lack the ability to satisfy this craving for importance by individual achievement. The country is being swamped with nobodies who want to be somebodies.

The ignorant are a reservoir of daring. It almost seems that those who have yet to discover the known are particularly equipped for dealing with the unknown. The unlearned have often rushed in where the learned feared to tread, and it is the credulous who are tempted to attempt the impossible. They know not whither they are going, and give chance a chance.

Those in possession of absolute power can not only prophesy and make their prophecies come true, but they can also lie and make their lies come true.

...That genius is a rare exception (:) It's not true. Talent and genius have been wasted on enormous scale throughout our history; this is all I know for sure.