“Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites.”

The principle of the Inquisition was murderous. . . . The popes were not only murderers in the great style, but they also made murder a legal basis of the Christian Church and a condition of salvation.

We are not sure we are right until we have made the best case possible for those who are wrong.

To develop and perfect and arm conscience is the great achievement of history.

When you perceive a truth, look for the balancing truth.

Ink was not invented to express our real feelings.

Fanaticism in religion is the alliance of the passions she condemns with the dogmas she professes.

There should be a law to the People besides its own will.

History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.

Men cannot be made good by the state, but they can easily be made bad. Morality depends on liberty.

The passion for power over others can never cease to threaten mankind, and is always sure of finding new and unforseen allies in continuing its martyrology.

. It is the delicate fruit of a mature civilization; and scarcely a century has passed since nations, that knew the meaning of the term, resolved to be free.

The minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.

Liberty has not only enemies which it conquers, but perfidious friends, who rob the fruits of its victories: Absolute democracy, socialism.

In every age its progress has been beset by its natural enemies, by ignorance and superstition, by lust of conquest and by love of ease, by the strong man’s craving for power, and the poor man’s craving for food.

Government rules the present. Literature rules the future.

Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.

My dad is the best and funniest newspaper columnist. There is nobody anywhere near as good.

In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.

I spent three of the best years of my life in 10th grade.

Habit is the best thing for you if you’re trying to write prose.

Any top-level athlete, it’s always the same. There’s always that hint of arrogance there… It’s hard to be humble when you’re the best.

The best and brightest don’t go into politics. The best and brightest are at Goldman Sachs.

The best parts about writing a show are [its] first, second and 10th anniversaries.

I have procured air [oxygen] between five and six times as good as the best common air that I have ever met with.