Throughout our long and sorry history it has been men who supposed themselves to be exemplars of integrity who have done all the damage. Every crusade, whether for decent literary standards or to cover women's bodies or to free the holy land, had been launched, endorsed, and enthusiastically perpetrated by men of character.

Talking with most people usually involves a search for truth. Talking with congressmen is strictly special effects.

The real problem has to do with the inability by people to admit that a position they've held a long time might be wrong. That's all. Not that it is. Just that it might be. I don't know why it is, but we tend to fall in love with things we believe, Threaten them, and you threaten us.

The measure of a civilization is in the courage, not of its soldiers, but of its bystanders.

There is no justice. There are occasional acts of vengeance, or regret, but there's no real justice. In the natural scheme of things, it is not possible.

How does it happen that the most intractable types always rise to the top?

Decisions are always made with insufficient information. If you really knew what was going on, the decision would make itself.