A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest form of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal in satisfying his vices. And it all comes from lying — to others and to yourself. The Karamazov Brothers

Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few. Maxim for Revolutionists

Two types of choices seem to me to have been crucial in tipping their outcomes towards success or failure: long-term planning, and willingness to reconsider core values. On reflection, we can also recognize the crucial role of these same two choices for the outcomes of our individual lives. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

“What fault do you find with them? A fault which is most serious, I said; the fault of telling a lie, and, what is more, a bad lie.” Republic