SIN: Self-Inflicted Nonsense.

SIN: Self-Inflicted Nonsense.

Argument is conclusive... but... it does not remove doubt, so that the mind may rest in the sure knowledge of read more

Argument is conclusive... but... it does not remove doubt, so that the mind may rest in the sure knowledge of the truth, unless it finds it by the method of experiment. For if any man who never saw fire proved by satisfactory arguments that fire burns. his hearer's mind would never be satisfied, nor would he avoid the fire until he put his hand in it that he might learn by experiment what argument taught.

I think it's only in a crisis that Americans see other people. It has to be an American crisis, of read more

I think it's only in a crisis that Americans see other people. It has to be an American crisis, of course. If two countries fight that do not supply the Americans with some precious commodity, then the education of the public does not take place. But when the dictator falls, when the oil is threatened, then you turn on the television and they tell you where the country is, what the language is, how to pronounce the names of the leaders, what the religion is all about, and maybe you can cut out recipes in the newspaper of Persian dishes.

People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a read more

People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins they wonder whether they are catching cold.

They exchanged the quick, brilliant smile of women who dislike each other on sight.

They exchanged the quick, brilliant smile of women who dislike each other on sight.

For God's sake, if you sin, take pleasure in it, and do it for the pleasure...

For God's sake, if you sin, take pleasure in it, and do it for the pleasure...

Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have read more

Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.

The people of the world having once been deceived, suspect deceit in truth itself.

The people of the world having once been deceived, suspect deceit in truth itself.

People of substance may sin without being exposed for their stolen pleasure; but servants and the poorer sort of women read more

People of substance may sin without being exposed for their stolen pleasure; but servants and the poorer sort of women have seldom an opportunity of concealing a big belly, or at least the consequences of it.