In its youth a people produce mythology and poetry; in its decadence, philosophy and logic.

In progressive societies the concentration[of wealth] may reach a point where the strength of number in the many poor rivals the strength of ability in the few rich; then the unstable equilibrium generates a critical situation, which history has diversely met by legislation redistributing wealth or by revolution distributing poverty.

Nature has never read the Declaration of Independence. It continues to make us unequal.

Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing the things historians usually record, while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is what happened on the banks.

We Americans are the best informed people on earth as to the events of the last twenty-four hours; we are the not the best informed as the events of the last sixty centuries.

Paul created a theology of which none but the vaguest warrants can be found in the words of Christ.

In my youth I stressed freedom, and in my old age I stress order. I have made the great discovery that liberty is a product of order.