“The opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a God or not. The atheist is a religious person. He believes in atheism as though it were a new religion.”

“They who lack talent expect things to happen without effort. They ascribe failure to a lack of inspiration or ability, or to misfortune, rather than to insufficient application. At the core of every true talent there is an awareness of the difficulties inherent in any achievement, and the confidence that persistence and patience something worthwhile will be realized. Thus talent is a species of vigor. (Eric Hoffer 1902-1983)”

“Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.”

“In times of change learners inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. ”

“Someone who thinks the world is always cheating him is right. He is missing that wonderful feeling of trust in someone or something.”

“Charlatanism of some degree is indispensable to effective leadership.”

“We have perhaps a natural fear of ends. We would rather be always on the way than arrive. Given the means, we hang on to them and often forget the ends.”

“The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps some people from becoming anything.”

“Many of the insights of the saint stem from their experience as sinners.”

“Our sense of power is more vivid when we break a man's spirit than when we win his heart.”

“It is by its promise of a sense of power that evil often attracts the weak.”