The thoughts of a prisoner — they’re not free either. They keep returning to the same things.

A man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy and nothing can stop him.

If one is forever cautious, can one remain a human being?

We have placed too much hope in political and social reforms, only to find out that we were being deprived of our most precious possession: our spiritual life.

A decline in courage may be the most striking feature that an outside observer notices in the West today. The Western world has lost its civic courage, both as a whole and separately, in each country, in each government, in each political party, and, of course, in the United Nations. Such a decline in courage is particularly noticeable among the ruling and intellectual elites...

Pride grows in the human heart like lard on a pig.

One should never direct people towards happiness, because happiness too is an idol of the market-place. One should direct them towards mutual affection. A beast gnawing at its prey can be happy too, but only human beings can feel affection for each other, and this is the highest achievement they can aspire to.

Own only what you can carry with you; know language, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.

If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?

Our envy of others devours us most of all.