History is always repeating itself, but each time the price goes up.

Which is now a more hopeful statement than Swift intended it to be.

Fundamentalism is the triumph of Paul over Christ.

Knowledge that does not generate achievement is a pale and bloodless thing, unworthy of mankind.

To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves; let us be above such transparent egotism. If you can't say good and encouraging things, say nothing. Nothing is often a good thing to do, and always a clever thing to say.

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.

Tolerance grows only when faith loses certainty; certainty is murderous.