I am, indeed, a king, 

because I know how to rule myself.

Sincerity is moral truth.

The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better 

when we were defenceless against tigers 

than they are today 

when we have become defenceless against ourselves.

I can't go on. 

I'll go on.

The care of human life and happiness, 

and not their destruction, 

is the first and only object of good government.

Music fathoms the sky.

For I have learned to look on nature, 

not as in the hour of thoughtless youth, 

but hearing oftentimes 

the still, sad music of humanity.

A wise man should so write 

(though in words understood by all men) 

that wise men only should be able to commend him.

I was cut off from the world. 

There was no one to confuse or torment me, 

and I was forced to become original.

In order to improve the mind, 

we ought less to learn, 

than to contemplate.

Do not consider it proof just because it is written in books, 

for a liar who will deceive with his tongue 

will not hesitate to do the same with his pen.

Some of the greatest, most revolutionary advances in science 

have been given their initial expression

 in attractively modest terms, 

with no fanfare.

Laughter does not please the mighty.

Most of the evil of the world comes about 

not out of evil motives, 

but somebody saying 

'get with the program, 

be a team player'.

Education is what survives 

when what has been learned 

has been forgotten.

A forest bird never wants a cage.

When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! 

When work is a duty, life is slavery.

It's not that the Irish are cynical. 

It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect 

for everything 

and everybody.

Others indeed may talk, and write, and fight about liberty, 

and make an outward pretence to it; 

but the free-thinker alone is truly free.

The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

Spring was moving in the air above 

and in the earth below and around him, 

penetrating even his dark and lowly little house 

with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.

The subjectivisation of the universal in art 

brings the universal downward 

on one hand, 

while on the other 

it helps raise the individual toward the universal.

The insufferable arrogance of human beings 

to think that Nature was made solely for their benefit, 

as if it was conceivable that the sun had been set afire 

merely to ripen men's apples and head their cabbages.

Faith in oneself is the best and safest course.

Treat all men alike. 

Give them the same law. 

Give them an even chance to live and grow.

All the forces in the world are not so powerful 

as an idea whose time has come.

I count religion but a childish toy, 

and hold there is no sin but ignorance.

Obstinacy is the result of the will forcing itself into the place of the intellect.

If the freedom of speech is taken away 

then dumb and silent we may be led,

 like sheep to the slaughter.

Good can imagine Evil; 

but Evil cannot imagine Good.

In scientific subjects, 

the natural remedy for dogmatism 

has been found in research.

The real cause of personal existence 

is not the favour of the Almighty, 

but the sexual love of one's earthly parents.

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.

The very essence of instinct is that it's followed independently of reason.

I would say that all traditional philosophies 

up to and including Marxism 

have tried to derive the 'ought' from the 'is.' 

My point of view is that this is impossible; 

this is a farce.

Endurance is nobler than strength, 

and patience than beauty.

When truth is no longer free, 

freedom is no longer real

That a literature in our time is living is shown in that way that it debates problems.

Poetry, 

even when apparently most fantastic, 

is always a revolt against artifice, 

a revolt, 

in a sense, 

against actuality.

To grow mature is 

to separate more distinctly, 

to connect more closely.

Just as people behave to me, 

so do I behave to them.

Always speak the truth, 

think before you speak, 

and write it down afterwards.

It is not enough to know your craft — 

you have to have feeling. 

Science is all very well, 

but for us imagination is worth far more.

Those who will not reason, are bigots, 

those who cannot, are fools, 

and those who dare not, are slaves.

Read not to contradict and confute, 

nor to believe and take for granted... 

but to weigh and consider.

Tell me and I forget. 

Teach me and I remember. 

Involve me and I learn.

When you realise the value of all life, 

you dwell less on what is past 

and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.

The knowledge from an enlightened person 

breaks on the hard rocks of ignorance.

The world is the great gymnasium 

where we come to make ourselves strong.