For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.

The most tyrannical of governments are those which make crimes of opinions, for everyone has an inalienable right to his thoughts.

If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past.

No matter how thin you slice it, there will always be two sides.

Reason connot defeat emotion, an emotion can only be displaced or overcome by a stronger emotion.

Nothing in nature is by chance... Something appears to be chance only because of our lack of knowledge.

The more clearly you understand yourself and your emotions, the more you become a lover of what is.

Men believe themselves to be free, simply because they are conscious of their actions, and unconscious of the causes whereby those actions are determined.

The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.

The highest endeavor of the mind, and the highest virtue, it to understand things by intuition.

We sit and talk, quietly, with long lapses of silenceand I am aware of the streamthat has no language, coursingbeneath the quiet heaven ofyour eyeswhich has no speech

Focus on what you are and what you can rather than what others aren't & can't. You have to win

For your love I have uprooted all my desires, I am no more demanding...

People have motives, what they are, is what you need to notice.

...there was an almost terrifying lack of intelligence in his eyes.

Don't get the impression that you arouse my anger. You see, one can only be angry with those he respects.

I don't generally read a lot of fiction.

I've had a face-lift. I've had my eyes done; liposuction; the nose job - well, that was a long time ago.

If I've made it a little easier for artists to work in violence, great! I've accomplished something.