An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it.

Grief at the absence of a loved one is happiness compared to life with a person one hates.

The conscious mind may be compared to a fountain playing in the sun and falling back into the great subterranean pool of subconscious from which it rises.

Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are among the privileged.

Each year India and China produce four million graduates compared with just over 250 000 in Britain.

Political tyranny is nothing compared to the social tyranny and a reformer who defies society is a more courageous man than a politician who defies Government.

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

Even Kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God.

If the euro zone doesn't come up with a comprehensive vision of its own future you'll have a whole range of nationalist xenophobic and extreme movements increasing across the European Union. And frankly questions about the British debate on EU membership will just be a small sideshow compared to the rise of political populism.

When I wonder what the future of books will be I often think about horses. Before automobiles existed everyone had a horse. Then cars became available and their convenience compared to horses was undeniable.