In the midst of the apparent diversity of human affairs, a certain number of primary facts may be discovered, from which all others are derived.

I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.

Society is endangered not by the great profligacy of a few, but by the laxity of morals amongst all.

everybody feels the evil, but no one has courage or energy enough to seek the cure

On close inspection, we shall find that religion, and not fear, has ever been the cause of the long-lived prosperity of an absolute government.

The happy and powerful do not go into exile, and there are no surer guarantees of equality among men than poverty and misfortune.

I am unaware of his plans but I shall never stop believing in them because I cannot fathom them and I prefer to mistrust my own intellectual capacities than his justice.

Nations, as well as men, almost always betray the most prominent features of their future destiny in their earliest years.

A whole nation cannot rise above itself.

When justice is more certain and more mild, is at the same time more efficacious.

The whole people contracts the habits and tastes of the magistrate.

It’s such a confidence trick, writing a novel. The main person you have to trick into confidence is yourself. This is hard to do alone.

Reason I know, is only a drug, and, as such, its effects are never permanent. But, like the juice of the poppy, it often gives a temporary relief.

The trouble with law is lawyers.

In pain a new time is born.

I think life on the road really suits very egotistical men. It's set up for kings.

It is comforting to reflect that the disproportion of things in the world seems to be only arithmetical.

There is an educational cliff we are walking over right this very second.

Mel Brooks and David Zucker - there are very few people who know silly, and they're usually hugely intelligent, because you have to be intelligent to get it. Like the Marx brothers. I love it.

Musically, I don't think I'd ever dry up. I trust my musical invention.

The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand.