Man is always worse than most people suspect, but also generally better than most people dream.

Humor is a prelude to faith and laughter is the beginning of prayer.

Not only in America but in Germany, in France since the war, in Germany after the First World War, the Germany of Adenauer, these are the creative relationships of Catholicism to a free society that the average American doesn't fully appreciate.

There are evidently limits to the achievements of science; and there are irresolvable contradictions both between prosperity and virtue, and between happiness and ``the good life,'' which had not been anticipated in our philosophy.

History is a realm in which human freedom and natural necessity are curiously intermingled.

Better not read books in which you make acquaintance of the devil.

The cross symbolizes a cosmic as well as historic truth. Love conquers the world, but its victory is not an easy one.