The truest test of independent judgment is being able to dislike someone who admires us, and to admire someone who dislikes us.

We evaluate others with a Godlike justice, but we want them to evaluate us with a Godlike compassion.

Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest," but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.

The art of listening needs its highest development in listening to oneself; our most important task is to develop an ear that can really hear what we're saying.

It's odd, and a little unsettling, to reflect upon the fact that English is the only major language in which "I" is capitalized; in many other languages "You" is capitalized and the "i" is lower case." --

Why are we willing to accept a new mathematical formula we don't understand as the product of a brilliant mind, while rejecting a new art form we don't understand as the product of a deranged mind?

A loser says that's the way it's always been done. A winner says there ought to be a better way.