Years should not be devoted to the acquisition of dead languages or to the study of history which, for the most part, is a detailed account of things that never occurred. It is useless to fill the individual with dates of great battles, with the births and deaths of kings. They should be taught the philosophy of history, the growth of nations, of philosophies, theories, and, above all, of the sciences.

If we admit that some infinite being has controlled the destinies of persons and peoples, history becomes a most cruel and bloody farce.

I believe that labor is a blessing. It never was and never will be a curse. It is a blessed thing to labor for . . . the ones you love. It is a blessed thing to have an object in life - something to do - something to call into play your best thoughts, to develop your faculties and to make you a man.

If God objected to [people with various handicaps], he ought not have created such people.

Intellect, without heart, is infinitely cruel. . . .

I would rather that we all should go to eternal chaos, to black and starless night, than that just one soul should suffer eternal agony.

The Church has always been willing to swap off treasures in heaven for cash down.