Whatever you may be sure of, be sure of this: that you are dreadfully like other people.

I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.

Consensus: the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values, and policies in search of something in which no one believes, but to which no one objects; the process of avoiding the very issues that have to be solved, merely because you cannot get agreement on the way ahead. What great cause would have been fought and won under the banner: 'I stand for consensus?

No man can afford to express, through words and acts, that which is not in harmony with his own beliefs, and if he does so, he may pay by the loss of his ability to influence others.

We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.

There are only two kinds of people, those who accept dogmas and know it, and those who accept dogmas and don't know it.

Religion is a great force—the only real motive force in the world; but what you fellows don't understand is that you must get a man through his own religion and not through yours.

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

If you have overcome your inclination and not been overcome by it, you have reason to rejoice.

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.

We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.

Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.

Peace by persuasion has a pleasant sound, but I think we should not be able to work it. We should have to tame the human race first, and history seems to show that that cannot be done.

Madness does not govern a country; discussion does.

No house should ever be on any hill or on anything. It should be of the hill, belonging to it, so hill and house could live together each the happier for the other.

The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.

Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed, by the masses.

If we are to achieve richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.

O beautiful for spacious skies, For Amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

No matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as the truth.

To do as one would be done by, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality.

Anarchy, anarchy! Show me a greater evil! This is why cities tumble and the houses rain down, this is what scatters armies!

It is not reason which is the guide of life, but custom.

You don't have to be big or well known to be great.