The only interesting ideas are heresies

The way in which a certain kind of political idealism has been discredited and scorned makes the danger not that intellectuals keep on making fools of themselves, formulating political opinions when they might not be as informed as they might be, but that they retreat and leave politics to the professionals.

A large part of the popularity and persuasiveness of psychology comes from its being a sublimated spiritualism: a secular, ostensibly scientific way of affirming the primacy of "spirit" over matter.

Some of the exuberance of my essay-writing has gone because I'm worried about the uses they could serve.

Using quotations was at first quite spontaneous for me, but then this use became strengthened through reflection. But originally this practice came out of temperament.

No 'we' should be taken for granted when the subject is looking at other people's pain.

I like to feel dumb. That’s how I know there’s more in the world than me.