The misfortune of the man of color is having been enslaved. The misfortune and inhumanity of the white man are having killed man somewhere.

Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of mankind.

All men naturally hate each other. We have used concupiscence as best we can to make it serve the common good, but this is mere sham and a false image of charity, for essentially it is just hate.

Strangers are an endangered species.

At the bottom of enmity between strangers lies indifference.

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.

We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.

To think ill of mankind, and not wish ill to them, is perhaps the highest wisdom and virtue.

A criminal may improve and become a decent member of society. A foreigner cannot improve. Once a foreigner, always a foreigner. There is no way out for him.

Children are all foreigners. We treat them as such.

The less intelligent the white man is, the more stupid he thinks the black.

It’s good to remember that in crises, natural crises, human beings forget for a while their ignorances, their biases, their prejudices. For a little while, neighbors help neighbors and strangers help strangers.

Many need no other provocation to enmity than that they find themselves excelled.