Philosophy, as the modern world knows it, is only intellectual club-swinging.

Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop.

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

The demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

Morality is doing what is right, no matter what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told, no matter what is right.

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.

The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.

It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.

Democracy is also a form of worship. It is the worship of Jackals by Jackasses.

Dark night knows what full moon requires When all your love my heart acquiresCelestial bodies no more faded Life makes sound

A seer is a sacred prophet

I did the math. (I presume Americans don't pluralise mathematics because they only plan to do it once.)

If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you!

It's nearly full dark. We should go." "We? I thought you were going to leave me alone." "I lied," Jace said without a shred of embarrassment.

Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history.

He grows daily more capable of following any inspiration without technical effort, and also of letting inspiration come to him through meticulous observation.

I'm amazed at my progress.

The first thunderstorm of the season was in the dressing room, donning its black robes and its necklace of hailstones, strapping on its electrical sword.