The world does not speak. Only we do. The world can, once we have programmed ourselves with a language, cause us to hold beliefs. But it cannot propose a language for us to speak. Only other human beings can do that.

What sort of world can we prepare for our great grandchildren?

My principal motive is the belief that we can still make admirable sense of our lives even if we cease to have... an ambition of transcendence.

Academic disciplines are subject to being overtaken by attacks of "knowingness"- a state of mind and soul that prevents shudders of awe and makes one immune to enthusiasm.

National pride is to countries what self-respect is to individuals: a necessary condition for self-improvement.

Open-mindedness should not be fostered because, as Scripture teaches, Truth is great and will prevail, nor because, as Milton suggests, Truth will always win in a free and open encounter. It should be fostered for its own sake.

To abjure the notion of the truly human is to abjure the attempt to divinize the self as a replacement for a divinized world.