In an imperfect world perfection is not instantly available. Railroad safety, for instance, cannot be secured by mechanical devices alone. It is primarily a resultant of care and discipline.

Tell the truth, because sooner or later the public will find out anyway. And if the public doesn't like what you are doing, change your policies and bring them into line with what people want.

Write down the most important things you have to do tomorrow.

Crazy people. They never think they're crazy. Their craziness makes perfect sense to them.

But this isn't a ghost story: the ghost is in the background, where she has to be. If she was in the foreground she'd be a person.

I think my attitude to human beings has changed since leaving prison.

The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious.

They talked aimlessly back and forth, each speaking for the other.

In a society under the forms of which the stronger faction can readily unite and oppress the weaker, anarchy may as truly be said to reign as in a state of nature.

I put the Scriptures above all the sayings of the fathers, angels, men and devils. Here I take my stand.

Such Roots as are soft, your best way is to dry in the Sun, or else hang them up in the Chimney corner upon a string; as for such as are hard you may dry them any where.

If somebody is going to try to paste a person's view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas. Don't give me Ayn Rand.

I ached for the difference between Carlisle and me - that he could touch her so gently, without fear, knowing he would never harm her.