Civilization depends upon the vigorous pursuit of the highest values by people who are intelligent enough to know that their values are qualified by their interests and corrupted by their prejudices.
Reinhold NiebuhrThere was a time when I had all the answers. My real growth began when I discovered that the questions to which I had the answers were not the important questions.
Reinhold NiebuhrIt is the evil in man that makes democracy necessary, and man's belief in justice that makes democracy possible.
Reinhold NiebuhrReligion mustn't interfere with the state - so one of the basic Democratic principles as we know it in America is the separation of church and state.
Reinhold NiebuhrMan is both strong and weak, both free and bound, both blind and far-seeing. He stands at the juncture of nature and spirit; and is involved in both freedom and necessity.
Reinhold NiebuhrRationalism belongs to the cool observer. But because of the stupidity of the average person, they follow not reason, but faith. This naïve faith, requires necessary illusions and emotionally potent oversimplifications, which are provided by the myth maker to keep the ordinary person on course.
Reinhold Niebuhr