“Every intellectual has a very special responsibility. He has the privilege and the opportunity of studying.”

“We don’t know anything” and believed that this was the most important philosophical truth.

While differing widely in the various little bits we know, in our infinite ignorance we are all equal.

We can all participate in the heritage of man. We all can help to preserve it. And we can all make our own modest contribution to it.

We all have an unscientific weakness for being always in the right, and this weakness seems to be particularly common among professional and amateur politicians.

History has no meaning.

I hold that he who teaches that not reason but love should rule opens up the way for those who rule by hate.

Great men may make great mistakes.

What we need and what we want is to moralize politics, not to politicize morals.

Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.

If we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.

The conspiracy theory of society, comes from abandoning God and then asking: “Who is in his place?”

It is complete nihilism to propose laying down arms in a world where atom bombs are around. It is very simple: there is no way of achieving peace other than with weapons.

The future depends on ourselves, and we do not depend on any historical necessity.

Theories are nets cast to catch what we call ‘the world’: to rationalize, to explain, and to master it. We endeavor to make the mesh ever finer and finer.

No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude.

We may become the makers of our fate when we have ceased to pose as its prophets.

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.

It’s a great privilege to dream.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love—then make that day count!

I don’t think I’m really in a situation to complain, because I consider myself to be privileged to be doing what I do.

I feel really privileged to be an actor, to be paid to do something I love.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.

Hearts are not had as a gift, But hearts are earned.

Everybody has to feel superior to somebody,” she said. “But it’s customary to present a little proof before you take the privilege.