The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.

Bethink you of the blessedness. Every wife is like the Mother of God and has the hope of bearing a saviour of mankind.

I believe that every man has in his soul a passion for treasure-hunting, which will often drive a coward into prodigies of valour.

We can pay our debts to the past by putting the future in debt to ourselves.

It was pretty clear that he was mad, for madness means just this dislocation of the modes of thought which mortals have agreed upon as necessary to keep the world together.

Leadership is only courage and wisdom, and a great carefulness of self.

I was a peaceful sedentary man, a lover of a quiet life, with no appetite for perils and commotions. But I was beginning to realise that I was very obstinate.

To live for a time close to great minds is the best kind of education.

Civilization is a conspiracy. Modern life is the silent compact of comfortable folk to keep up pretences.

Civilisation needs more than the law to hold it together. You see, all mankind are not equally willing to accept as divine justice what is called human law.

Prayer opens the heart to God, and it is the means by which the soul, though empty, is filled by God.

London is like the tropical bush -- if you don't exercise constant care the jungle, in the shape of the slums, will break in.

The Church of Christ is an anvil which has worn out many hammers. Our opponents may boast of their strength, but they do not realize what they have challenged.

Wise men never grow up; indeed, they grow younger, for they lose the appalling worldly wisdom of youth.

I get into a tearing passion about something I know very little about, and when I learn more my passion ebbs away.

I would have been content with any job however thankless, in any quarter however remote, if I had a chance of making a corner of the desert blossom and the solitary place glad.

The world was arrogant and self-satisfied, but behind all this confidence there was an uneasy sense of impending disaster. The old creeds, both religious and political, were largely in the process of dissolution, but we did not realise the fact, and therefore did not look for new foundations.

He had just the same narrow head, and stubborn mouth, and honest, quick-tempered eyes. It is the type that makes dashing regimental officers, and earns V.C.'s, and gets done in wholesale. I was never that kind. I belonged to the school of the cunning cowards.

Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.

A fool tries to look different: a clever man looks the same and is different.