Great men are true men, the men in whom nature has succeeded. They are not extraordinary — they are in the true order. It is the other species of men who are not what they ought to be. – Henri Frederic Amiel
The sum of the whole is plainly this: The nature of man considered in his single capacity, and with respect only to the present world, is adapted and leads him to attain the greatest happiness he can for himself in the present world. – Joseph Butler
Civilization today reminds me of an ape with a blowtorch playing in a room full of dynamite. It looks like the monkeys are about to operate the zoo, and the inmates are taking over the asylum. – Vance Havner