War has become a luxury that only small nations can afford.

It is in the nature of a group and its power to turn against independence, the property of individual strength.

There always comes a point beyond which lying becomes counterproductive. This point is reached when the audience to which the lies are addressed is forced to disregard altogether the distinguishing line between truth and falsehood in order to be able to survive.

The greatest enemy of authority, therefore, is contempt, and the surest way to undermine it is laughter.

The good things in history are usually of very short duration, but afterward have a decisive influence on what happens over long periods of time.

Politically speaking, tribal nationalism [patriotism] always insists that its own people are surrounded by 'a world of enemies' - 'one against all' - and that a fundamental difference exists between this people and all others. It claims its people to be unique, individual, incompatible with all others, and denies theoretically the very possibility of a common mankind long before it is used to destroy the humanity of man.

No punishment has ever possessed enough power of deterrence to prevent the commission of crimes.