God is the immemorial refuge of the incompetent, the helpless, the miserable. They find not only sanctuary in His arms, read more

God is the immemorial refuge of the incompetent, the helpless, the miserable. They find not only sanctuary in His arms, but also a kind of superiority, soothing to their macerated egos; He will set the above their betters.

Anyone can see a forest fire. Skill lies in sniffing the first smoke.

Anyone can see a forest fire. Skill lies in sniffing the first smoke.

Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.

Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.

The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at children's games from the beginning, read more

The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at children's games from the beginning, and will probably do it till the end, which is a nuisance for the few people who grow up. And one of the games to which it is most attached is called, ''Keep tomorrow dark,'' and which is also named (by the rustics in Shropshire, I have no doubt) ''Cheat the Prophet.'' The players listen very carefully and respectfully to all that the clever men have to say about what is to happen in the next generation. The players then wait until all the clever men are dead, and bury them nicely. Then they go and do something else. That is all. For a race of simple tastes, however, it is great fun.

I find it valid to understand man as an animal before I am prepared to know him as a man.

I find it valid to understand man as an animal before I am prepared to know him as a man.

Civilization is unbearable, but it is less unbearable at the top.

Civilization is unbearable, but it is less unbearable at the top.

...in the course of the last century science has become so dizzy with its successes, that it has forgotten to read more

...in the course of the last century science has become so dizzy with its successes, that it has forgotten to ask the pertinent questions- or refused to ask them under the pretext that they are meaningless, and in any case not the scientists concern.

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.

...it is always from a minority acting in ways different from what the majority would prescribe that the majority in read more

...it is always from a minority acting in ways different from what the majority would prescribe that the majority in the end learns to do better.