Talent is hereditary; it may be the common possession of a whole family (eg, the Bach family); genius is not transmitted; it is never diffused, but is strictly individual.

The fixed stars signify the angel in man. That is why man orients himself by them; and that is why women have no appreciation for the starry sky; because they have no sense of the angel in man.

No men who really think deeply about women retain a high opinion of them; men either despise women or they have never thought seriously about them.

In those rare individual cases where women approach genius they also approach masculinity.

Every true, eternal problem is an equally true, eternal fault; every answer an atonement, every realisation an improvement.

The genius which runs to madness is no longer genius.

The deepest, the intelligible, part of the nature of man is that part which does not take refuge in causality, but which chooses in freedom the good or the bad.

It is not the fear of death which creates the desire for immortality, but the desire for immortality which causes the fear of death.

Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.

But the higher a man mounts, the greater may be his fall; all genius is a conquering of chaos, mystery.

An individual's arrogance is always in proportion to his lack of self-assurance.

An important part of deciding where we want to go, as a society and culture, is knowing where we have come from, and indeed, how far we have come.

Don't underestimate the allure of darkness. Even the purest hearts are drawn to it.

I lived with the terrible knowledge that one day I would be an old man still waiting for my real life to start. Already, I pitied that old man.

He is no lawyer who cannot take two sides.

Look into the mirror of the world, and you will see only yourself.

Key statements made by latter-day prophets are not trite clichés. They are vital counsel to us from the Lord through his prophets. We should ponder and act upon such statements.

You've got to keep things flying.

I am plain-speaking out of both sides of my mouth.

Well, I think everyone struggles with self-love.

Foreign aid goes from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.