The history of mankind is a perennial tragedy; for the highest ideals which the individual may project are ideals which he can never realize in social and collective terms.

Where, but in the simplicity of the Gospel, can you hear about both the dignity of man and the misery of man?

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

One of the most pathetic aspects of human history is that every civilization expresses itself most pretentiously, compounds its partial and universal values most convincingly, and claims immortality for its finite existence at the very moment when the decay which leads to death has already begun.

I think I should know how to educate a boy, but not a girl; I should be in danger of making her too learned.

If we survive danger it steels our courage more than anything else.

One of the fundamental points about religious humility is you say you don't know about the ultimate judgment. It's beyond your judgment. And if you equate God's judgment with your judgment, you have a wrong religion.