Society and the World

Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

I don't think necessity is the mother of invention. ‘Invention’, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.

Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.

The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us.

The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us.

The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be.

Not what I have, but what I do is my kingdom.

Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are.

The great law of culture: Let each become all that he was created capable of being.

My importance to the world is relatively small. On the other hand, my importance to myself is tremendous. I am all I have to work with, to play with, to suffer and to enjoy. It is not the eyes of others that I am wary of, but of my own. I do not intend to let myself down more than I can possibly help, and I find that the fewer illusions I have about myself or the world around me, the better company I am for myself.

Duties are not performed for duties' sake, but because their neglect would make the man uncomfortable. A man performs but one duty, the duty of contenting his spirit, the duty of making himself agreeable to himself.

It is easy to perform a good action, but not easy to acquire a settled habit of performing such actions.

The improvement of understanding is for two ends: first, our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others.

The improvement of understanding is for two ends: first, our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others.

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference.

To be pleased with one's limits is a wretched state.

Decide on what you think is right, and stick to it.

Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me." And then you have found that attitude, follow it.