There is an easiness in salvation which is more difficult to us than all our efforts.

There is no detachment where there is no pain. And there is no pain endured without hatred or lying unless detachment is present too.

The role of the intelligence - that part of us which affirms and denies and formulates opinions is merely to submit.

If we concentrate our attention on trying to solve a problem of geometry, and if at the end of an hour we are no nearer to doing so than at the beginning, we have nevertheless been making progress each minute of that hour in another more mysterious dimension. Without knowing or feeling it, this apparent barren affort has brought more light into the soul.

Rome is the Great Beast of atheism and materialism, adoring nothing but itself. Israel is the Great Beast of religion. Neither one nor the other is likable. The Great Beast is always repulsive

When literature becomes deliberately indifferent to the opposition of good and evil it betrays its function and forfeits all claim to excellence.

Human existence is so fragile a thing and exposed to such dangers that I cannot love without trembling.