THE TEN GREATEST THINKERS

WHAT IS THOUGHT? It baffles description because it includes everything through which it might
be defined.

The last few decades have been the most peaceful era in human history. Whereas in early
agricultural societies human violence caused up to 15 per cent of all human deaths, and in the
twentieth century it caused 5 percent, today it is responsible for only 1 percent.

Words form the thread on which we string our experiences. Without them we should live spasmodically and intermittently.

It is fashionable nowadays to say that Malthus was wrong, because he did not foresee
that improved methods of transportation can now guarantee that food surpluses
produced in one area shall be quickly and cheaply transferred to another, where there is
a shortage.

Goering and Hitler displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals; Stalin’s favorite work of art was a celluloid musical about Old Vienna, called The Great Waltz.

Between 1800 and 1900 the doctrine of Pie in the Sky gave place, in a majority of Western minds, to the doctrine of Pie on the Earth.

MEN fear death, as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.

VIRTUE is like a rich stone, best plain set; and surely virtue is best in a body that is comely, though not of delicate features; and that hath rather dignity of presence, than beauty of aspect.

What is truth?” said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer. Certainly there be that delight in giddiness and count it a bondage to fix a belief, affecting free-will in thinking as well as in acting.

It was a high speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics), that the good things, which belong to prosperity, are to be wished; but the good things, that belong to adversity, are to be admired. Bona rerum secundarum optabilia; adversarum mirabilia.