The life of sense begins by assuming that we can only fitfully live the life of reason.

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.

If it is the great delusion of moralists to suppose that all previous ages were less sinful than their own, then it is the great delusion of intellectuals to suppose that all previous ages were less sick.

A great maxim of personal responsibility and mature achievement: "Do it yourself" is now the enthroned cliche for being occupied with nonessentials.

We are neurotically haunted today by the imminence, and by the ignominy, of failure. We know at how frightening a cost one succeeds: to fail is something too awful to think about.

In general, American social life constitutes an evasion of talking to people. Most Americans don't, in any vital sense, get together; they only do things together.

Someone who gossips well has a reputation for being good company or even a wit, never for being a gossip.