The moving van is a symbol of more than our restlessness, it is the most conclusive evidence possible of our progress.

The trouble with us in America isn't that the poetry of life has turned to prose, but that it has turned to Advertising copy.

The American Way is so restlessly creative as to be essentially destructive; the American Way is to carry common sense itself almost to the point of madness.

Having disciples is in the end like having children, only not with love but with self-love preeminent.

One of the misfortunes of our time is that in getting rid of false shame, we have killed off so much real shame as well.

The fascinating necessarily tends to call a certain attention to itself; the interesting need not. An evening spent with a fascinating person leaves vivid memories; one spent with interesting people has merely a sort of bouquet.

From the failure of the humanist tradition to participate fully or to act decisively, civilizations may perhaps crumble or perish at the hands of barbarians. But unless the humanist tradition itself in some form survives, there can really be no civilization at all.