“The tendencies we have mentioned are something new for America. They arose when, under the influence of the two World Wars and the consequent concentration of all forces on a military goal, a predominantly military mentality developed, which with the almost sudden victory became even more accentuated. The characteristic feature of this mentality is that people place the importance of what Bertrand Russell so tellingly terms “naked power” far above all other factors which affect the relations between peoples. The Germans, misled by Bismarck’s successes in particular, underwent just such a transformation of their mentality—in consequence of which they were entirely ruined in less than a hundred years. I must frankly confess that the foreign policy of the United States since the termination of hostilities has reminded me, sometimes irresistibly, of the attitude of Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II, and I know that, independent of me, this analogy has most painfully occurred to others as well. It is characteristic of the military mentality that non-human factors (atom bombs, strategic bases, weapons of all sorts, the possession of raw materials, etc.) are held essential, while the human being, his desires and thoughts—in short, the psychological factors—are considered as unimportant and secondary. Herein lies a certain resemblance to Marxism, at least insofar as its theoretical side alone is kept in view. The individual is degraded to a mere instrument; he becomes “human materiel.” The normal ends of human aspiration vanish with such a viewpoint. Instead, the military mentality raises “naked power” as a goal in itself—one of the strangest illusions to which men can succumb.”

“The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.”

“Man is here for the sake of other men - above all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness depends.”

“Even on the most solemn occasions I got away without wearing socks and hid that lack of civilization in high boots”

“I have reached an age where if someone tells me to wear socks, I dont have to”

“The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.”

“Conviction is a good motive, but a bad judge.”

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”

“That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.”

“Hope that justice will be done to those brave men who stood up for their convictions.”

“The importance of C.F. Gauss for the development of modern physical theory and especially for the mathematical fundament of the theory of relativity is overwhelming indeed; also his achievement of the system of absolute measurement in the field of electromagnetism. In my opinion it is impossible to achieve a coherent objective picture of the world on the basis of concepts which are taken more or less from inner psychological experience.”

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

“Imagination is intelligence having fun.”

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”

“A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth.”