But neither infinite power nor infinite wisdom could bestow godhood upon men. For that there would have to be infinite love as well.

For no change comes calmly over the world.

Listen, my dear Cors, why don't you forgive God for allowing pain? If He didn't allow it, human courage, bravery, nobility, and self-sacrifice would all be meaningless things.

....to abuse the intellect for reasons of pride, vanity, or escape from responsibility, is the fruit of that same tree.

Ask for an omen, then stone it when it comes -- de essentia hominum.

....Nature imposes nothing on you that Nature doesn't prepare you to bear.

The captain looked defensive. "You regard our customs as primitive?"Every society to its own tastes, captain. The wisdom of one society would be folly for another. Who is qualified to judge? Only the universe, which passes the judgment of survival on all peoples.