The acorn becomes an oak by means of automatic growth; no commitment is necessary. The kitten similarly becomes a cat on the basis of instinct. Nature and being are identical in creatures like them. But a man or woman becomes fully human only by his or her choices and his or her commitment to them. People attain worth and dignity by the multitude of decisions they make from day by day. These decisions require courage.

There can be no stronger proof of the impoverishment of our contemporary culture than the popular - though profoundly mistaken - definition of myth as falsehood.

Creativity is a yearning for immortality

It is amazing how many hints and guides and intuitions for living come to the sensitive person who has ears to hear what his body is saying.

The hallmark of courage in our age of conformity is the capacity to stand on one's own convictions - not obstinately or defiantly

One must have at least a readiness to love the other person, broadly speaking, if one is to be able to understand him.

Fortunately, however, we no longer have to argue that self -love is not only necessary and good but that it also is a prerequisite for loving others.