Also, of course, for most of this time most Americans thought of America as a white country with, at best, only a very segregated and subordinate role for blacks.

Expectations should not always be taken as reality; because you never know when you will be disappointed.

But then I came to the conclusion that no, while there may be an immigration problem, it isn't really a serious problem. The really serious problem is assimilation.

Partial truths or half-truths are often more insidious than total falsehoods.

Power remains strong when it remains in the dark; exposed to the sunlight it begins to evaporate.

Many more people in the world are concerned about sports than human rights.

Some Westerners […] have argued that the West does not have problems with Islam but only with violent Islamist extremists. Fourteen hundred years of history demonstrate otherwise.

It will take a long time, and certainly the West will remain the dominant civilization well into the next century, but the decline is occurring.

The relations between countries in the coming decade are most likely to reflect their cultural commitments, their cultural ties and antagonism with other countries.

Global politics remains extremely complex and countries have different interests, which will also lead them to make what might seem as rather bizarre friends and allies.

Nationalism is a central ideology for people who are trying to establish their own states in which they can play a dominant role.

You cannot love if you cannot forgive.

When I was growing up in the south Indian city of Madras, there were only two political parties that mattered; one was run by a former matinee idol, and the other was run by his former screenwriter.

We learn words by rote, but not their meaning; that must be paid for with our life-blood, and printed in the subtle fibres of our nerves.

The object of pure Mathematic (is) that of unfolding the laws of human intelligence.

I spend about eight months researching and outlining my book.

We are all born brave, trusting and greedy, and most of us remain greedy.

I think it is inflationary. I think it actually is counterproductive in many ways. You end up costing jobs from people who are at the bottom rung of the economic ladder.

I think politicians are so far out of step with what people really want.

Happiness is simply to allow everything to be exactly as it is from moment to moment.

Contentment is not escape from the battle, but rather an abiding peace and confidence in the midst of the battle.