In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.

America cannot have an empire abroad and a Republic at home.

Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it.

Books are for people who wish they were somewhere else.

...ignorant as the unborne babe! ignorant as unborn twins!

The xmas holidays have this high value: that they remind Forgetters of the Forgotten, & repair damaged relationships.

Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.