The opinion prevailed among advanced minds that it was time that belief should be replaced increasingly by knowledge; belief that did not itself rest on knowledge was superstition, and as such had to be opposed.

Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.

I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right.

The attempt to combine wisdom and power has only rarely been successful and then only for a short while.

When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity.

One strength of the communist system of the East is that it has some of the character of a religion and inspires the emotions of a religion.

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems, in my opinion, to characterize our age.

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices, but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.