A man always assumes that others are as virtuous as himself

Oh, Val," said Father. "All you have to do is live your life, and everyone around you will be happier." "No greatness, then." "Val," said Mother, "goodness trumps greatness any day." "Not in the history books," said Valentine. "Then the wrong people are writing history, aren't they?" said Father.

I've lived too long with pain. I won't know who I am without it

Ender's Game is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984... It will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute.

It is a common trait of primates to become submissive and even worshipful toward one who has the power to kill them.

Sometimes lies were more dependable than the truth.

Happiness is not a life without pain, but rather a life in which the pain is traded for a worthy price.