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People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come in to the mind of others.

We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposed to rob us of their companionship.

There is a holy, mistaken zeal in politics, as well as in religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves.

Enthusiasm for a cause sometimes warps judgment.

Human beings do things for a reason, even if sometimes it's the wrong reason.

It takes a very strong brain to resist the absolutes, the myths that the media and the politicians peddle - the idea that if you are too kind, where does it all end? That not to help someone is somehow a good idea.

In the end, people are persuaded not by what we say, but by what they understand.

Many of us are inspired and are eager to get things done. But once too many people are involved, life becomes complicated. We are all social beings, so we have an innate urge to incorporate everyone's thoughts.

We are people in circumstances who make choices that we think are right at the time.

We make choices but are constantly foiled by happenstance.