There is a guilty conscience behind every brazen word and act and behind every manifestation of self-righteousness.

Glory is largely a theatrical concept. There is no striving for glory without a vivid awareness of an audience.

A doctrine insulates the devout not only against the realities around them but also against their own selves. The fanatical believer is not conscious of his envy, malice, pettiness and dishonesty. There is a wall of words between his consciousness and his real self.

Man was nature's mistake she neglected to finish him and she has never ceased paying for her mistake.

All leaders strive to turn their followers into children.

No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our shortcomings and transgressions. We need people to convince us that we are not as bad as we think we are.

Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a God, but never without belief in a devil.