When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.

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?

We are passing into a social phase in which unless a heroic effort is made for human dignity and freedom, gold will be the sole method of government and therefore the sole standard of manners.

What people call impartiality may simply mean indifference, and what people call partiality may simply mean mental activity.

Ingratitude is surely the chief of the intellectual sins of man. He takes his political benefits for granted, just as he takes the skies and the seasons for granted.

Atheism is too theological.

Thoughts on the Merits of Work The worst of work nowadays is what happens to people when they cease to work.