The life-world of human and animal experience, with colours, tastes, solid objects, is a perceptual effect of massed atoms.

The Epicureans denied that the gods had created the world and also denied that they played any role in it.

The higher the coefficient of inequality (Gini coefficient) in a society, the worse things tend to be for those at the bottom.

I have to say that some philosophers such as the late Bernard Williams, and I would include myself in this group, would say that tranquillity is overrated as the goal of life.

We have to gamble, and sometimes lose as George Ainslie argues; this keeps the appetite for life sharp.

'Contract' succeeded 'status' as the basic organising principle in modern political vs. ancient society.

Atomism had no absolute 'above' and 'below' and no such rulers, so favoured the undersranding of justice as an agreement amongst equals.

Epicurus thought of justice as an agreement to prevent people harming and being harmed.

Epicurus was not at all interested in what we would call the problems of mass society, and he thought civic politics was just trouble and to be avoided by the wise.

Claims like 'Slavery is wrong' are not fully common-sensical, so they must be at least partly theoretical.

The (atomic) soul is mortal, and the best life is the one with the least pain and the most pleasure.

Death is a continuation of my life without me...

So it had something to do with the sinner, and something with the judge, and the fear of not being forgiven, and the relief of being loved again.

Don't be a patron of disbelief

I think you get noticed a lot more as a brunette, but I don't know. People approach me, I think, but maybe it's because of the reality show.

Just being the son of Billy Graham won't get me into heaven.

A lot of the art that was destroyed was painted and created by Jews. A lot of that is gone because that was degenerative art. That's what Hitler was trying to get rid of.

Nor does Apollo keep his bow continually drawn. [Lat., Neque semper arcum Tendit Apollo.]

No, our greatness does not come from our government.

We draw the line against misconduct, not against wealth.

Music, the most abstract and uncanny art, is an eternal river of sound moving through time. We can free ourselves from whatever may be holding us back, and join that flowing river.