I have little belief in human progress. The human race is incurably idiotic. It will never be happy.

I think the Negro people should feel secure enough by now to face a reasonable ridicule without terror. I am unalterably opposed to all efforts to put down free speech, whatever the excuse.

Man is the yokel par excellence, the booby unmatchable, the king dupe of the cosmos. He is chronically and unescapably deceived, not only by the other animals and by the delusive face of nature herself--by his incomparable talent for searching out and embracing what is false, and for overlooking and denying what is true.

Our whole practical government is grounded in mob psychology and the Boobus Americanus will follow any command that promises to make him safer.

The saddest life is that of a political aspirant under democracy. His failure is ignominious and his success is disgraceful.

Firmness in decision is often merely a form of stupidity. It indicates an inability to think the same thing out twice.

The ideal state for a philosopher, indeed, is celibacy tempered by polygamy.