Those who imagine that the world is against them have generally conspired to make it true.

God cannot be solemn, or he would not have blessed man with the incalculable gift of laughter.

Skepticism is not an end in itself; it is a tool for the discovery of truths.

We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we have stopped saying 'It got lost,' and say, 'I lost it.'

The pessimist sees only the tunnel; the optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel; the realist sees the tunnel and the light - and the next tunnel.

A person is either himself or not himself; is either rooted in his existence or is a fabrication; has either found his humanhood or is still playing with masks and roles and status symbols. And nobody is more aware of this difference (although unconsciously) than a child. Only an authentic person can evoke a good response in the core of the other person; only person is resonant to person.

It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, 'the greatest', but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.