“To regret religion is to regret Western civilization.”

“It is only by having desire thwarted, and thereby learning to control it — in other words, by becoming civilized — that men become fully human.”

“[T]he scale of a man's evil is not entirely to be measured by its practical consequences. Men commit evil within the scope available to them.”

“Feeling good about yourself is not the same thing as doing good. Good policy is more important than good feelings.”

“There is nothing that an intellectual less likes to change than his mind, or a politician his policy.”

“When every benefit received is a right, there is no place for good manners, let alone for gratitude.”

“The bravest and most noble are not those who take up arms, but those who are decent despite everything; who improve what it is in their power to improve, but do not imagine themselves to be saviours. In their humble struggle is true heroism.”