Idealism, alas, does not protect one from ignorance, dogmatism, and foolishness.

Everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system.

Tolerance always has limits - it cannot tolerate what is itself actively intolerant.

To silence criticism is to silence freedom.

I was guilty of judging capitalism by its operations and socialism by its hopes and aspirations; capitalism by its works and socialism by its literature.

The easiest rationalization for the refusal to seek the truth is the denial that truth exists.

Fear of death has been the greatest ally of tyranny past and present.

The difference between science and religion is that the former wishes to get rid of mysteries whereas the latter worships them.

Nonetheless, it still remains true that as a set of cognitive beliefs, religious doctrines constitute a speculative hypothesis of an extremely low order of probability.

In contrast to totalitarianism, democracy can face and live with the truth about itself.

Before impugning an opponent's motives, even when they legitimately may be impugned, answer his arguments.

Believe in Eternity, believe in childhood, believe that the beauty of innocence lives on and on and on. I know it does.

Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for no wind is the right wind.

Science repudiates philosophy. In other words, it has never cared to justify its truth or explain its meaning.

I'm lucky because the strongest emotion I have ever felt is being in love, and that definitely informs my writing.

Last night we had Bill Clinton, the former president. Security was as tight as Governor Christie's yoga pants.

In all private quarrels the duller nature is triumphant by reason of dullness.

I don't stage my own publicity.

Who then will explain the explanation?

Pessimism, she is a fond friend of yours, yes?" - That's uncalled for. I barely know her. Mere acquaintances, at best.

I think experience has shown that privateers have done more toward distressing the trade of our enemies, and furnishing these States with necessaries, than Continental Ships of the same force.