Patriotism is usually stronger than class hatred, and always stronger than internationalism.

Circus dogs jump when the trainer cracks his whip, but the really well-trained dog is the one that turns his somersault when there is no whip.

Sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield.

For weeks past he had been making ready for this moment, and it had never crossed his mind that anything would be needed except courage. The actual writing would be easy. All he had to do was to transfer to paper the interminable restless monologue that had been running inside his head, literally for years.

We were once told that the aeroplane had "abolished frontiers"; actually it is only since the aeroplane became a serious weapon that frontiers have become definitely impassable.

The way to make a million dollars is to start a religion.

Let's face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short.