Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes Literature answers. Are people good or bad? You bet says Literature. But unlike other systems of knowing Literature declines to eradicate one truth in favor of another.

It is the merit of a general to impart good news and to conceal the truth.

A remark generally hurts in proportion to its truth.

Nothing is beautiful only man: on this piece of naivete rests all aesthetics it is the first truth of aesthetics. Let us immediately add its second: nothing is ugly but degenerate man - the domain of aesthetic judgment is therewith defined.

People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe.

The time I trust will come perhaps within the lives of some of us when the outline of this science will be clearly made out and generally recognised when its nomenclature will be fixed and its principles form a part of elementary instruction.

I generally wade in blind and trust to fate and instinct to see me through.

To say that you now trust the Russian military command and control system because some Russian general told you from the bottom of his heart that's the case strikes me as most unrealistic.

When I think it's good not to say the truth I don't say anything. I don't like actors in general they lie they are liars trust me.

I think there is a break down of trust generally between people and politicians. I think that's come about for a whole variety of reasons.