Whatever begins to be tranquil is gobbled up by something not tranquil.

Whatever begins to be tranquil is gobbled up by something not tranquil.

A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt dangerous.

A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt dangerous.

...each new generation born is in effect an invasion of civilization by little barbarians, who must be civilized before it read more

...each new generation born is in effect an invasion of civilization by little barbarians, who must be civilized before it is too late.

Destiny is an invention of the cowardly and the resigned.

Destiny is an invention of the cowardly and the resigned.

There may be said to be two classes of people in the world: those who constantly divide the people of read more

There may be said to be two classes of people in the world: those who constantly divide the people of the world into two classes, and those who do not.

The process of evolution may be described as differentiation of structure and integration of function. The more differentiated and specialized read more

The process of evolution may be described as differentiation of structure and integration of function. The more differentiated and specialized the parts, the more elaborate co-ordination is needed to create a well-balanced whole. The ultimate criterion of the value of a functional whole is the degree of its internal harmony or integratedness, whether the "functional whole" is a biological species or a civilization or an individual. A whole is defined by the pattern of relations between its parts, not by the sum of its parts; and a civilization is not defined by the sum of its science, technology, art and social organization, but by the total pattern which they form, and the degree of harmonious integration in that pattern.

It is only because the majority opinion will always be opposed by some that our knowledge and understanding progress. In read more

It is only because the majority opinion will always be opposed by some that our knowledge and understanding progress. In the process by which opinion is formed, it is very probable that, by the time any view becomes a majority view, it is no longer the best view: somebody will already have advanced beyond the point which the majority have reached. It is because we do not yet which of the many competing new opinions will prove itself the best that we wait until it has gained sufficient support.

The desire to be different from the people we live with is sometimes the result of our rejection- real or read more

The desire to be different from the people we live with is sometimes the result of our rejection- real or imagined- by them.

...one of the tests of a theory is that, once grasped, it appears self-evident.

...one of the tests of a theory is that, once grasped, it appears self-evident.