Practically every movie that shows the pope or even a bishop as a character, and in much of western literature of the last 300 or 400 years, these are portrayed as awful figures.

Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work.

The most critical threat to our freedom is a failure to appreciate the power of truth.

Christians must be Jews. The truth of what we believe depends on the truth of Judaism, depends on the first covenant.

Christ said: Blessed are the peace-makers, not blessed are the peace-sayers. If the world fell into the hands of totalitarian factions, there is still the possibility that they might fight amongst themselves. Surrender to them would not encourage the kingdom of peace and love - and those that desire it, or with passionate intensity permit it, know not what they do.

In most of history, societies have not been free. It's a very rare society that is free. The default condition of human societies is tyranny.

Tradition lives because young people come along who catch its romance and add new glories to it.