How powerful social mores are! Only a spider's web lies across the volcano, yet it refrains from erupting.

Culture is the tacit agreement to let the means of subsistence disappear behind the purpose of existence.

The discovery of the North Pole is one of those realities which could not be avoided. It is the wages which human perseverance pays itself when it thinks that something is taking too long. The world needed a discoverer of the North Pole, and in all areas of social activity, merit was less important here than opportunity.

It so often happened to me that someone who shared my opinion kept the larger share for himself that I am now forewarned and offer people only ideas.

Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave.

The closer the look one takes at a word, the greater distance from which it looks back.

A father's pride, laid on thick, has always made me wish that the fellow had at least experienced some pain during procreation.