Nature attains perfection, but man never does.

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.

A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business.

The genuine artist is as much a dissatisfied person as the revolutionary, yet how diametrically opposed are the products each distills from his dissatisfaction.

Charlatanism of some degree is indispensable to effective leadership.

Nationalist pride, like other variants of pride, can be a substitute for self-respect.

Where unity and self-sacrifice are indispensable for the normal functioning of society, everyday life is likely to be either religiofied (common tasks turned into holy causes) or militarized.