Today more than ever we need creative minds to address the issues of the age. And one of the most urgent is this: How can humanity know so much achieve so much and still fail so many people so badly?

Interest is the spur of the people but glory that of great souls. Invention is the talent of youth and judgment of age.

Why do people talk of the horrors of old age? It's great. I feel like a fine old car with the parts gradually wearing out but I'm not complaining ... Those who find growing old terrible are people who haven't done what they wanted with their lives.

People until I was 60 would always say they thought I looked younger which I think without flattering myself I did but I think I certainly have as George Orwell says people do after a certain age the face they deserve.

The nearer people approach old age the closer they return to a semblance of childhood until the time comes for them to depart this life again like children neither tired of living nor aware of death.

It's not catastrophes murders deaths diseases that age and kill us it's the way people look and laugh and run up the steps of omnibuses.

It is not the young people that degenerate they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.

I'm 36 and if I met a woman of my own age and married her I'd also be marrying her former life her past. It might be OK for some people - I don't want to judge it or anything - but it's not for me. It would destroy my creativity.

I saw no African people in the printed and illustrated Sunday school lessons. I began to suspect at this early age that someone had distorted the image of my people. My long search for the true history of African people the world over began.

Nearly all the powerful people of this age are unbelievers the best of them in doubt and misery the most in plodding hesitation doing as well as they can what practical work lies at hand.