“A theory that explains everything, explains nothing.”

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 promise us paradise on earth never produced anything but hell.

No book can ever be finished. While working on it we learn just enough to find it immature the moment we turn away from it

The most we can say of democracy or freedom is that they give our personal abilities a little more influence on our well-being.

It is not the consciousness of man that determines his existence – rather, it is his social existence that determines his consciousness.

It is wrong to think that belief in freedom always leads to victory; we must always be prepared for it to lead to defeat. If we choose freedom, then we must be prepared to perish along with it.

The wise man belongs to all countries, for the home of a great soul is the whole world.

Always remember that it is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood: there will always be some who misunderstand you.

We must regard all laws or theories as hypothetical or conjectural; that is, as guesses.

The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false.

Alexander the Great found the philosopher looking attentively at a pile of human bones. Diogenes explained,I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave.

He has the most who is most content with the least.

If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.

Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world.

When the devil is called god of this world, it is not because he made it, but because we serve him with our worldiness.

Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.

He who knows how to speak, knows also when.