The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the true believer, particularly the religious individual, is a humble person. The truth is that the surrendering and humbling of the self breed pride and arrogance. The true believer is apt to see himself as one of the chosen, the salt of the earth, a prince disguised in meekness, who is destined to inherit this earth and the kingdom of heaven, too. He who is not of his faith is evil; he who will not listen shall perish.

Woe to him inside a non-conformist clique who does not conform to non-conformity.

The burning conviction that we have a holy duty toward others is often a way of attaching our drowning selves to a passing raft.

Far more crucial than what we know or do not know is what we do not want to know.

There is probably an element of malice in our readiness to overestimate people - we are, as it were, laying up for ourselves the pleasure of later cutting them down to size.

We clamor for equality chiefly in matters in which we ourselves cannot hope to obtain excellence.

The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.