Political elections are not life and death.

The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself.

There hasn't been a day in my life since I started Latin in ninth grade that I haven't benefited by the lives of the ancients.

All creatures tread across the rubble of ruined civilizations. The trick is to keep moving. No animal ever goes about dispensing shallow compassion.

I always feel bad for those who, in a sense, cede their authority to others, let others make major decisions about their life and actually believe them. When you're tiny, you have no choice. But as soon as your mind starts working, you pretty well figure it out. And you realize you're a hostage until you're old enough to leave. But as long as you have that goal - I will get out of here - you'll be OK.

Creative people do not belong in the university because the process is antithetical to the analytical process so necessary for proper scholarship.

... I distrust manifest knowledge.