The doctrine that all men are, in any sense, or have been, at any time, free and equal, is an utterly baseless fiction.

The great tragedy of science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.

Only one absolute certainty is possible to man, namely that at any given moment the feeling which he has exists.

The Bible has been the Magna Charta of the poor and of the oppressed.

If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?

It is not who is right, but what is right, that is of importance.

Thoughtfulness for others, generosity, modesty, and self-respect are the qualities which make a real gentleman or lady.

God give me strength to face a fact though it slay me.

Life is too short to occupy oneself with the slaying of the slain more than once.

The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.

Make up your mind to act decidedly and take the consequences. No good is ever done in this world by hesitation.

You may die a hundred deaths without a break in the mental turmoil. Or, you may keep your body and die only in the mind. The death of the mind is the birth of wisdom.

The past is what you take with you.

In knowing ourselves to be unique, we possess the capacity for becoming conscious of the infinite. But only then!

When I was to come to Washington the first time as Music Director of the Boston Symphony, Mrs. Johnson phoned us to find out if they could give us a party and who we would like to meet.

What am I, Life? A thing of watery salt Held in cohesion by unresting cells, Which work they know not why, which never halt, Myself unwitting where their Master dwells?

What I like most about change is that it's a synonym for 'hope'. If you're taking a risk, what you are really saying is, 'I believe in tomorrow and I will be the part of it.

Angels come in many shapes and sizes, and most of them are not invisible.

Should the Catholic Church find itself discriminated against by the Obama administration on key delivery of services because of the bias and the bigotry of the administration?

As a result of that, and as a result of friendship, I don't think we've ever been competitive. I mean, there's probably a very good reason Hunter [S. Thompson] isn't jealous of me.

As a man, you got to know how to take it, so I just took it.