I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and read more

I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and I cannot resist forming one on every subject), as soon as the facts are shown to be opposed to it.

There is in the universe something for the description and analysis of which the natural sciences cannot contribute anything. There read more

There is in the universe something for the description and analysis of which the natural sciences cannot contribute anything. There are events beyond the range of those events that the procedures of the natural sciences are fit to observe and describe. There is human action.

Society is only possible on these terms, that the individual finds therein a strengthening of his own ego and his read more

Society is only possible on these terms, that the individual finds therein a strengthening of his own ego and his own will.

We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.

We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.

...in the shaping of a life, chance and the ability to respond to chance are everything.

...in the shaping of a life, chance and the ability to respond to chance are everything.

Evolution as such is no longer a theory for a modern author. It is as much a fact as that read more

Evolution as such is no longer a theory for a modern author. It is as much a fact as that the earth revolves around the sun.

We must think of human progress, not as of something going on in the race in general, but as something read more

We must think of human progress, not as of something going on in the race in general, but as something going on in a small minority, perpetually beleaguered in a few walled towns. Now and then the horde of barbarians outside breaks through, and we have an armed effort to halt the process. That is, we have a Reformation, a French Revolution, a war for democracy, a Great Awakening. The minority is decimated and driven to cover. But a few survive- and a few are enough to carry on.

A touchstone to determine the actual worth of an "intellectual"- find out how he feels about astrology.

A touchstone to determine the actual worth of an "intellectual"- find out how he feels about astrology.

The pillars of truth and the pillars of freedom--they are the pillars of society.

The pillars of truth and the pillars of freedom--they are the pillars of society.