“You can best serve civilization by being against what usually passes for it.”

“Even our best qualities can turn against us, and when they do we are usually the last to know.”

“if it's the best of anything, i have to have one. (when passing a food stand claiming to serve the world's best subways)”

“He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.”

“I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass.”

“i was accused of being against civilization, against science, against humanity. naturally, i was flattered and at the same time surprised, hurt, a little shocked. he repeated the charge. but how, i replied, being myself a member of humanity (albeit involuntarily, without prior consultation), could i be against humanity without being against myself, whom i love - though not very much; how can i be against science, when i gratefully admire, as much as i can, thales, democritus, aristarchus, faustus, paracelsus, copernicus, galiley, kepler, newton, darwin and einstien; and finally, how could i be against civilization when all which i most willingly defend and venerate - including the love of wilderness - is comprehended by the term”