It is superfluous to be humble on one's own behalf; so many people are willing to do it for one.

I cannot write long books; I leave that for those who have nothing to say.

In an autocracy, one person has his way; in an aristocracy, a few people have their way; in a democracy, no one has his way.

Society expresses its sympathy for the geniuses of the past to distract attention from the fact that it has no intention of being sympathetic to the geniuses of the present.

A narrow mind and a wide mouth usually go together.

The way to do research is to attack the facts at the point of greatest astonishment.

When someone says his conclusions are objective, he means that they are based on prejudices which many other people share.

Lack of clarity is always a sign of dishonesty.

One of the greatest superstitions of our time is the belief that it has none.

The human race has to be bad at psychology; if it were not, it would understand why it is bad at everything else.

The only important thing to realise about history is that it all took place in the last five minutes.

Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for.

Democracy is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the sacred promises of human dignity, justice and peace.

The world has little to bestow Where two fond hearts in equal love are joined.

Self-government means self support.

Our whole life is solving puzzles.

Old guys can still do fun things.

Somaliland and Somalia at large have been receiving now hundreds of thousands of returnees that they had to accommodate with very small resources.

You never know how far you can go unless you run.

We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change; I intend to deliver it. ... I will govern as a reformer.

He who cannot shine by thought, seeks to bring himself into notice by a witticism.