The central struggle of parenthood is to let our hopes for our children outweigh our fears.
I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people who are convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference after another.
We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Older men declare war, but it is the youth that must fight and die.
Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.
Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad.
[Humanity] has unquestionably one really effective weapon?laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution?these can lift at a colossal humbug?push it a little?weaken it a little, century by century; but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.