Liberty and equality, spontaneity and security, happiness and knowledge, mercy and justice - all these are ultimate human values, sought for themselves alone; yet when they are incompatible, they cannot all be attained, choices must be made, sometimes tragic losses accepted in the pursuit of some preferred ultimate end.

Out of the crooked timber of humanity, nothing completely straight was ever made

True knowledge is knowledge of why things are as they are, and not merely what they are.

The case against the notion of historical objectivity is like the case against international law, or international morality; that it does not exist.

The desire not to be impinged upon, to be left to oneself, has been the markof high civilisation both on the part of individuals and communities.

Liberty is liberty, not equality or fairness or justice or human happiness or a quiet conscience.

One belief, more than any other, is responsible for the slaughter of individuals on the alter of the great historical ideas - justice or progress or happiness of future generations... or emancipation of a nation or race or class... this is the belief that somewhere... there is a final solution.