“This is the way history happens: it is measured out in days rather than epochs.”

“It is true that biographical readings of the plays are dangerous, unregulated, prone to sentimentalization. It is absurd to cherry-pick passages of poetry written over more than two decades and infer from them a consistent personal attitude. Lines belong in a dramatic context and in the psychological context of the character who utters them and cannot be taken to reflect Shakespeare's views.”

“Everything should be doubted and tested before it is held to be true.”

“The cage is empty; the mind has flown.”

“When in doubt, move, even if it's in the wrong direction.”

“Noise and crowds have a way of siphoning our energy and distracting our attention, making prayer an added chore rather than a comforting relief”

“Much as the sage may affect to despise the opinion of the world, there are few who would not rather expose their lives a hundred times than be condemned to live on, in society, but not of it - a by-word of reproach to all who know their history, and a mark for scorn to point his finger at.”