Imitation is often a shortcut to a solution. We copy when we lack the inclination, the ability or the time to work out an independent solution. People in a hurry will imitate more readily than people at leisure. Hustling thus tends to produce uniformity. And in the deliberate fusing of individuals into a compact group, incessant action will play a considerable role.

The urge to escape our real self is also an urge to escape the rational and the obvious.

There is always a chance that he who sets himself up as his brother's keeper will end up by being his jail-keeper.

When we are in competition with ourselves, and match our todays against our yesterdays, we derive encouragement from past misfortunes and blemishes. Moreover, the competition with ourselves leaves unimpaired our benevolence toward our fellow men.

When we believe ourselves in possession of the only truth, we are likely to be indifferent to common everyday truths.

Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.

We have rudiments of reverence for the human body, but we consider as nothing the rape of the human mind.