Freedom is the fundamental character of the will, as weight is of matter... That which is free is the will. Will without freedom is an empty word.

America is therefore the land of the future, where, in the ages that lie before us, the burden of the World's History shall reveal itself.

Once the state has been founded, there can no longer be any heroes. They come on the scene only in uncivilized conditions.

The true courage of civilized nations is readiness for sacrifice in the service of the state, so that the individual counts as only one amongst many. The important thing here is not personal mettle but aligning oneself with the universal.

Science and knowledge, especially that of philosophy, came from the Arabs into the West.

What experience and history teach is this - that nations and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted on any lessons they might have drawn from it. Variant: What experience and history teach is this - that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it.

The first glance at History convinces us that the actions of men proceed from their needs, their passions, their characters and talents; and impresses us with the belief that such needs, passions and interests are the sole spring of actions.