"You cannot believe what you are saying." "Well, no. Hardly ever. But the philosopher is like the poet. The latter composes ideal letters for an ideal nymph, only to plumb with his words the depths of passion. The philosopher tests the coldness of his gaze, to see how far he can undermine the fortress of bigotry."

Whenever a poet or preacher, chief or wizard spouts gibberish, the human race spends centuries deciphering the message.

The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.

I developed a passion for the Middle Ages the same way some people develop a passion for coconuts.

Daytime sleep is like the sin of the flesh; the more you have the more you want, and yet you feel unhappy, sated and unsated at the same time.

Creativity can only be anarchic, capitalist, Darwinian.

The only truths that are useful are instruments to be thrown away.