I think the first prerequisite to civilization is an ability to make polite conversation.

One of the most horrible, yet most important, discoveries of our age has been that, if you really wish to destroy a person and turn him into an automaton, the surest method is not physical torture, in the strict sense, but simply to keep him awake, i.e., in an existential relation to life without intermission.

As biological organisms made of matter, we are subject to the laws of physics and biology: as conscious persons who create our own history we are free to decide what that history shall be. Without science, we should have no notion of equality; without art, no notion of liberty.

The theater has never been any good since the actors became gentlemen.

The trees encountered on a country stroll Reveal a lot about that country's soul ... A culture is no better than its woods.

In a game, just losing is almost as satisfying as just winning... In life the loser's score is always zero.

Every high C accurately struck demolishes the theory that we are the irresponsible puppets of fate or chance.