Many a revolution started with the actions of a few. Only 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. A few hanging together can lead a nation to change.

Climate change was a point of division between Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney. The president declared climate change a global threat acknowledged that the actions of humanity were deepening the crisis and pledged to do something about it if elected.

Consider the perverse effect cap and trade has on altruistic actions. Say you decide to buy a small high-efficiency car. That reduces your emissions but not your country's. Instead it allows somebody else to buy a bigger S.U.V. - because the total emissions are set by the cap.

Most men are individuals no longer so far as their business its activities or its moralities are concerned. They are not units but fractions.

In the US there is basically one party - the business party. It has two factions called Democrats and Republicans which are somewhat different but carry out variations on the same policies. By and large I am opposed to those policies. As is most of the population.

The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.

Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past.

The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.

We should often blush for our very best actions if the world did but see all the motives upon which they were done.

We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them.