One of the tragedies of modern times is that people have come to believe that something said by someone in the past, perhaps for illustrative or provocation purposes, actually represents that person's beliefs at the time.

Talking about straws and camels' backs is just one way of approaching things. If you have enough camels, no backs need be broken.

If your desire for 'good' is based on greed, it is not good, but greed.

If you want to make an ordinary man happy, or think that he is happy, give him money, power, flattery, gifts, honours. If you want to make a wise man happy - improve yourself!

History is not usually what has happened. History is what some people have thought to be significant.

Better to be safe than to be sorry' is a remark of value only when these are the actual alternatives.

Sometimes a pessimist is only an optimist with extra information.