Something of great importance now past is inferior to something of little importance now present, in that the latter is a reality, and related to the former as something to nothing.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.

The majority of men... are not capable of thinking, but only of believing, and... are not accessible to reason, but only to authority.

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.

Man is the only animal who causes pain to others with no other object than wanting to do so.

Genius and madness have something in common: both live in a world that is different from that which exists for everyone else.

A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts.

Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in order to shine.

Nature shows that with the growth of intelligence comes increased capacity for pain, and it is only with the highest degree of intelligence that suffering reaches its supreme point.

Shame isn't a quiet grey cloud, shame is a drowning man who claws his way on top of you, scratching and tearing your skin, pushing you under the surface.

...the air has that bracing autumnal bite so that all you want to do is bob for apples or hang a witch or something.

What is it: is man only a blunder of God or God only a blunder of man?

No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it.

We people of the Earth exist because our potential was there in the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago, as the universe exploded into being.

There is much that women can bring into politics that would make our world a kinder, gentler place for humanity to thrive in.

How you learn has nothing to do with how brilliant you are.

A cross between Leo [DiCaprio]'s character in Catch Me If You Can and ... I don't know, I really like any of his movies.

I don’t measure America by its achievement but by its potential.

Who, precisely, are your Dreamers? Are their Dreams in Technicolor? Do you allow their most Outrageous Dreams to be seen in public?