Smiley ’s Reviews > Fact and Fiction > Status Update

If the human race is to survive, nationalism will have to come to terms with a new ideal -- namely, internationalism. I do not see how this ideal, which will concede to each nation internal autonomy, but not freedom for external aggression, can be reconciled with the formation of new colonies, because empty regions can no longer be found. ... (p. 108)

... Originally the words 'orgy' and 'theory' meant the same thing, namely 'divine intoxication', which, when Bacchus was the Divinity, was not very sharply distinguished from ordinary intoxication. But fortunately these linguistic curiosities did not lead to an armed conflict. ... It must, however, be confessed that what in the West is called democracy, is not quite what the word orginally meant. (p. 67)

... Originally the words 'orgy' and 'theory' meant the same thing, namely 'divine intoxication', which, when Bacchus was the Divinity, was not very shaprply distinguished from ordinary intoxication. But fortunately these linguistic curiosities did not lead to an armed conflict.
...
It must, however, be confessed that what in the West is called democracy, is not quite what the word orginally meant. (p. 67)

This is one of the things that ought to be secured by education, whereas in fact most education at present does exactly the opposite. It ought to be the aim of education to produce open-mindedness and a willingness to listen to arguments without growing angry because they tend to conclusions that we dislike. ... (p. 59)

If a man is not prepared to starve he must find work, probably under some great corporation which has sinister purposes of which every friend of mankind must disapprove. If you are a Socialist and a journalist, you will have to work for a reactionary newspaper. If you are a steel worker and pacifist, you will have to work for armaments. ... (p. 54)

The beauty and clarity and force of his reasoning affected me in the same kind of way as the greatest music. (p.34)

(Gibbon's) narrative was interesting, his jokes were amusing, and his characters were often very queer.

University Education