The historian must have some conception of how men who are not historians behave.

And the winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.

Imam Hussain's sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of rightousness.

I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.

The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful.

And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord. The superstition of the people was not embittered theological rancor.

Let us read with method, and propose to ourselves an end to which our studies may point. The use of reading is to aid us in thinking.

In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.

Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.

Vicissitudes of fortune, which spares neither man nor the proudest of his works, which buries empires and cities in a common grave.

We improve ourselves by victories over ourselves. There must be contest, and we must win.

So many policy decisions that effect musicians are being made without any input from musicians at all.

People can say anything they want to. If they don't want to get the news from me, get it from somebody else. It's not something I'm going to worry about, I'm sorry.

Only spread a fern-frond over a man's head and worldly cares are cast out, and freedom and beauty and peace come in.

I learned to be with myself rather than avoiding myself with limiting habits; I started to be aware of my feelings more, rather than numb them.

The days of an open mic night when I'd rock up in an old jumper are over.

The sympathy of most people consists of a mixture of good-humour, curiosity, and self-importance.

Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralysing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.

In an age when the fashion is to be in love with yourself, confessing to be in love with somebody else is an admission of unfaithfulness to one's beloved.

All you need to know is that I have an old enemy pretending to be me. (Acheron) Why? (Talon) Well, it obviously isn’t to be nice to me and win over my friends, now is it? (Acheron)

And you very soon find out, if you have not found it out before, that patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness.