“I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music.”

“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.”

“Light travels faster than sound, thats why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.”

“The most important question a person can ask is, "Is the Universe a friendly place?”

“Nella vita quotidiana sono il classico solitario, ma la consapevolezza di appartenere alla comunità invisibile di quelli che lottano per la verità, per la bellezza e per la giustizia mi ha risparmiato ogni sensazione di isolamento”

“Since the mathematicians have invaded the theory of relativity I do not understand it myself any more.”

“We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. ”

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

“Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. -”

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

“The only source of knowledge is experience.”

“Older men start wars, but younger men fight them. ”

“The state was made for man, not man for state.”

“One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike -- and yet it is the most precious thing we have.”

“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift.”