The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.

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

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.

France has neither winter, summer, nor morals—apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country.

“Abroad,” that large home of ruined reputations.

Who sees all beings in his own self, and his own self in all beings, loses all fear.

Children are all foreigners. We treat them as such.

Such then is the human state, that to wish greatness for one’s country is to wish harm to one’s neighbors.

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

Other nations use “force”; we Britons alone use “might.”

When the missionaries first came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, “Let us pray.” We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land.

When you name yourself, you always name another.