I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

“I discuss with myself questions of politics, love, taste, or philosophy. I let my mind rove wantonly, give it free rein to follow any idea, wise or mad that may present itself.”

Here’s the thing with me and the religious thing. This is the flat-out truth: I find the religiosity and philosophy in the music. I don’t find it anywhere else.

Philosophy . . .consists chiefly in suggesting unintelligible answers to insoluble problems.

“I must study Politics and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematics and Philosophy.”

Wonder is the feeling of the philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.

Greek philosophy seems to have met with something with which a good tragedy is not supposed to meet, namely, a dull ending.

I have gained this by philosophy … I do without being ordered what some are constrained to do by their fear of the law