Foreknowledge of the future makes it possible to manipulate both enemies and supporters.

Intellectuals cannot tolerate the chance event, the unintelligible: they have a nostalgia for the absolute, for a universally comprehensive scheme.

Foreknowledge of the future makes it possible to manipulate both enemies and supporters.

Skepticism cannot be revolutionary, even though it speaks the language of revolution.

The intellectual who no longer feels attached to anything is not satisfied with opinion merely; he wants certainty, he wants a system. The revolution provides him with his opium.

Peace is impossible, war is improbable.

Despotism has so often been established in the name of liberty that experience should warn us to judge parties by their practices rather than their preachings.