I am a journalist and have no earthly motives except curiosity and personal vanity.

Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Could I not be grateful to Santa Claus when he put in my stockings the gift of two miraculous legs? We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?

If Christianity should happen to be true - that is to say, if its God is the real God of the universe - then defending it may mean talking about anything and everything.

Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable.

Mankind is not a tribe of animals to which we owe compassion. Mankind is a club to which we owe our subscription.

The sceptics, like bees, give their one sting and die.

The best kind of giving is thanksgiving.