I love opposition that has convictions.

Great things are achieved only when we take great risks.

All religions must be tolerated ... every man must go to heaven in his own way. [Die Religionen müssen alle toleriert werden ... denn hier muss ein jeder nach seiner Fasson selig werden.]

The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.

Diplomacy without military might is like music without instruments.

Great advantage is drawn from knowledge of your adversary, and when you know the measure of his intelligence and character, you can use it to play on his weakness.

Every man has a wild beast within him.

A man, who can, in cold blood, hunt and torture a poor, innocent animal, cannot feel much compassion for the distress of his own species.

The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices.

No government can exist without taxation. The money must necessarily be levied on the people; and the grand art consists of levying so as not to oppress.

Many battles have been fought and won by soldiers nourished on beer, and the King does not believe that coffee-drinking soldiers can be relied upon to endure hardships in case of another war.

Education is the movement from darkness to light.

The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness

Finding that balance between work and family is the hardest thing I've ever done - by far.

People find gold in fields, veins, river beds, and pockets. Whichever, it takes work to get it out.

I really do enjoy getting out to meet my readers. Writing is such a solitary business, it's gratifying to thank folks in person and really connect as human beings and not just words on a screen.

I'm the diamond in the dirt, that ain't been found. I'm the underground king and I ain't been crowned.

We need, in love, to practice only this: letting each other go. For holding on comes easily; we do not need to learn it.

I loved comedy all my life. I think it's a real powerful art form.

For human beings, the most daunting challenge is to become fully human. For to become fully human is to become fully divine.

It's nice to see arrogance humbled.