At 18 our convictions are hills from which we look; At 45 they are caves in which we hide.

Genius is the ability to put into effect what is in your mind.

Optimism is the content of small men in high places.

Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy.

The test of a first-fate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.