... Philosophy proper is a subject, on the one hand so hopelessly obscure, on the other so astonishingly elementary, that there knowledge hardly counts.

A person’s first duty, a young person’s at any rate, is to be ambitious, and the noblest ambition is that of leaving behind something of permanent value.

It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.

If I could prove by logic that you would die in five minutes, I should be sorry you were going to die, but my sorrow would be very much mitigated by pleasure in the proof.

Young men should prove theorems, old men should write books.

Most people can do nothing at all well

For any serious purpose, intelligence is a very minor gift.