What is the professor's function? To pass on to numskulls a body of so-called knowledge that is fragmentary, unimportant, and largely untrue.

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.

344

A mother only does her children harm if she makes them the only concern of her life.

Meditation is a skilful letting go: gently but with resolution.

The history of food has never had a better biographer. Required reading for anyone who eats.

The life you save may very well be your own.

Jiu-jitsu is personal efficiency to protect the weaker, which anyone can do. It is the force of leverage against brute force.

It is frequently the tragedy of the great artist, as it is of the great scientist, that he frightens the ordinary man.

There is a huge difference between danger and fear.

The strength and clarity of the picture you envision at the start will tell you when you are done. You are finished when you have said what you wish to say, when nothing added can make it better.

It's the greatest of Southern honors . . . to have one's name incorporated into a family tree. It's an honor not lightly given.