How men fear the chaos of the world, I thought, and the yawning eternity hereafter. So we build patterns to explain its terrible mysteries and reassure ourselves we are safe in this world and beyond.

Around thrones the thunder rolls.

If a ruler who wants to act honourably is surrounded by unscrupulous men, his downfall is inevitable.

If my heart grows any fonder, it's going to hop out of my chest and into yours.

It is hard to die unmourned.

Adults tend to think they have much free will. Kids younger than six are less sure. They may be more realistic!

Chastity seems to have come as a late development. What the primitive maiden dreaded was not the loss of her virginity but a reputation for sterility.

A Homeland, A State, A Leader.

You're just trying on different identities, like everyone in those Shakespeare plays. And the people we pretend at, they're already in us. That's why we pretend them in the first place.

[My father] taught me (at least he showed me) a dignified way to be a former president is that once you're off the stage, you're off the stage.

Jeans represent democracy in fashion.

To be able to hear our own feelings and needs and to empathize with them can free us from depression.