This is a world inhabited not by people who have to be persuaded to believe but by people who want an excuse to believe.

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

Oligopoly is an imperfect monopoly. Like the despotism of the Dual Monarchy, it is saved only by its incompetence.

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.

But there is merit even in the mentally retarded legislator. He asks the questions that everyone is afraid to ask for fear of seeming simple.

Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.

If all else fails immortality can always be assured by adequate error.

The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled.

There is certainly no absolute standard of beauty. That precisely is what makes its pursuit so interesting.

Simple minds, presumably, are the easiest to manage.

Every corner of the public psyche is canvassed by some of the most talented citizens to see if the desire for some merchandisable product can be cultivated.

As a motivation —for humans, but Christians especially— guilt is always wrong and can never move them to do anything He wants of them. Never let them realize that.

I just find that with music I've always felt a sort of comfort.

Every man with a bellyful of the classics is an enemy to the human race.

I wanted a theory that would allow one to live outside the office with the same philosophy one uses inside it.

I like Islam, it is a consistent idea of religion and open-minded.

Don't be afraid of what you want. This is your time. The barriers are down.

Few books today are forgivable. Black on canvas, silence on the screen, an empty white sheet of paper are perhaps feasible.

I feel like I'm really honest in my interviews, to a fault. I've lost friends over it. Major friends. And I'm heartbroken about that.

Where we focus our energy is where we will get the results.

I think the whole aspect of social networking is vulgar and repulsive in a lot of ways.