I cannot divine how it happens that the man who knows the least is the most argumentative.

I cannot divine how it happens that the man who knows the least is the most argumentative.

I write about violence as naturally as Jane Austen wrote about manners. Violence shapes and obsesses our society, and if read more

I write about violence as naturally as Jane Austen wrote about manners. Violence shapes and obsesses our society, and if we do not stop being violent we have no future.

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that? Come up with a smiling face, It's nothing against you to read more

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that? Come up with a smiling face, It's nothing against you to fall down flat/ But to lie there-that's a disgrace.

The moment avoiding failure becomes your motivation, you're down the path of inactivity. You stumble only if you're moving.

The moment avoiding failure becomes your motivation, you're down the path of inactivity. You stumble only if you're moving.

It is easier to discover a deficiency in individuals, in states, and in Providence, than to see their real import read more

It is easier to discover a deficiency in individuals, in states, and in Providence, than to see their real import and value.

We tell our triumphs to the crowds, but our own hearts are the sole confidants of our sorrows.

We tell our triumphs to the crowds, but our own hearts are the sole confidants of our sorrows.

They exchanged the quick, brilliant smile of women who dislike each other on sight.

They exchanged the quick, brilliant smile of women who dislike each other on sight.

There's nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view that I hold dear.

There's nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view that I hold dear.

The term up has no meaning apart from the word down. The term fast has no meaning apart from the read more

The term up has no meaning apart from the word down. The term fast has no meaning apart from the term slow. In addition such terms have no meaning even when used together, except when confined to a very particular situation... most of our language about the organization and objective's of government is made up of such polar terms. Justice and injustice are typical. A reformer who wants to abolish injustice and create a world in which nothing but justice prevails is like a man who wants to make everything up. Such a man might feel that if he took the lowest in the world and carried it up to the highest point and kept on doing this, everything would eventually become up. This would certainly move a great many objects and create an enormous amount of activity. It might or might not be useful, according to the standards which we apply. However it would never result in the abolishment of down.