An optimist is somebody who thinks our various political and social systems, schools and churches, support groups and Boy Scout troops, jury trials a….

If you're right, and nobody really cares what's out there, I wonder whether we're even worth saving..

Technological civilizations don't last long. You're all right until you get a printing press. Then a race starts between technology and common sense.….

Faith has its price. When misfortune strikes the true believer, he assumes he has done something to deserve punishment, but isn't quite certain what.….

If you want creative and successful children, resign yourself to jousting with rebels..

The real problem has to do with the inability by people to admit that a position they've held a long time might be wrong. That's all. Not that it is.….

There's not much to be said for sightseeing. You go somewhere that has a waterfall. You have a beer, watch the water go over the edge, and move on. T….

Tides are like politics. They come and go with a great deal of fuss and noise, but inevitably they leave the beach just as they found it. On those fe….

The uplifters are forever running around telling blockheads they would do better if they would believe in themselves. But they already do. That is wh….

... the truth is that when your people don't tell you what you need to know, it's a failure of leadership..

It can provide horrendous weapons to idiots..

So long as men and women are free, no one is safe. People will be in danger because others can't operate vehicles responsibly or shoot straight. Beca….

Truth, beaten down, may well rise again. But there's a reason it gets beaten down. Usually, we don't like it very much..

One could not always put safety up front as the prime goal. Do that, and who would ever achieve anything of note?.

The term congressional hearing is an oxymoron. No congressional hearing is ever called to gather information. Rather, it is an exercise designed stri….

People tend to believe that good fortune consists of equal parts talent, hard work, and sheer luck. It's hard to deny the roles of the latter two. As….

Solitude is only a good idea if you have the right people along to share it..

Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Goo….

There are few professions whose primary objective is to advance the cause of humanity rather than simply to make money or accrue power. Among this li….

Intelligence is like pornography. I can't define it, but I know if when I see it..