In contrast to revenge, which is the natural, automatic reaction to transgression and which, because of the irreversibility of the action process can be expected and even calculated, the act of forgiving can never be predicted; it is the only reaction that acts in an unexpected way and thus retains, though being a reaction, something of the original character of action.

In the era of imperialism, businessmen became politicians and were acclaimed as statesmen, while statesmen were taken seriously only if they talked the language of succcessful businessmen.

every thought is strictly speaking an after-thought.

The practice of violence, like all action, changes the world, but the most probable change is a more violent world.

Economic growth may one day turn out to be a curse rather than a good, and under no conditions can it either lead into freedom or constitute a proof for its existence.

It is rather hard and certainly depressing to admit guilt and to repent

Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible.