Book Contagion

“The facts of religion are convincing only to those who are already convinced.”

“Education is not just about the passive assimilation of facts and cultural traditions, but about challenging the mind to become active, competent, and thoughtfully critical in a complex world.”

“One has either to take people as they are, or leave them as they are. One cannot change them, one can merely disturb their balance. A human being, after all, is not made up of single pieces, from which a single piece can be taken out and replaced by something else.”

“I do not wish you much happiness — it would bore you; I do not wish you trouble either; but, following the people’s philosophy, I will simply repeat: ‘Live more’ and try somehow not to be too bored…”

“I want, once and for all, not to know many things. Wisdom requires moderation in knowledge as in other things.”