We always hope, and in all things it is better to hope than to despair.

There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight.

The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.

The formation of one's character ought to be everyone's chief aim.

I'd gone to Oxford to do graduate studies in the history of the slave trade, but I came across Georgiana's letters, gave up that thesis, and wrote one on her instead. When I learned that Georgiana's great-nephews supported opposite sides in the American Civil War, I knew this would be the perfect sequel.

He who follows his lessons tastes a profound peace, and looks upon everybody as a bunch of manure.

I intend to vote against authorizing the president to use military force in Syria. The Obama Administration has not provided a clear or convincing strategy for inserting our military into the conflict. I am also deeply concerned about the extent to which al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists are involved in the rebellion.

I remember fear and I remember the potential of nuclear war.