Civilization and Barbarism

On a stationary military frontier between a civilization and a barbarism, time always works in the barbarians' favour; and, besides this, the barbarians' advantages increases in geometrical progression at each arithmetical addition to the length of the line which the defenders of the civilization have to hold.

- A J Toynbee, A Study of History Vol 2, Vol 5

The weak spot of religion is its ridiculousness

- A J Toynbee, A Study of History Vol 5

Climate and Weather

Climate refers to the long-term equilibriums that the planet achieves; weather describes short-term deviations from it.

- Nate Silver (The Signal and the Noise)

Risk and Uncertainty

Risk greases the wheels of a free-market economy; uncertainty grinds them to a halt.

- Nate Silver (The Signal and the Noise)

Risk on livelihood

Human beings have an extraordinary capacity to ignore risks that threaten their livelihood, as though this will make them go away.

- Nate Silver (The Signal and the Noise)

Love is a Decision

Love is a decision. You decide to love somebody.

- Andrew Smith (Moon Dust)

Inimitable Innocence

Innocence is the one thing you can't re-create, can only parody.

- Andrew Smith (Moon Dust)

Pervasive Goodness

When too much cynicism threatens to engulf us, it is buoying to remember how pervasive goodness is

- Carl Sagan (Billions & Billions)