Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it sees the irrationality of others, it must seek to correct it, and can do this either by teaching or engaging in public affairs itself, correcting through its practice. And the purpose of action is to enable philosophy to continue, for if men are reduced to the material alone, they become no more than beasts.

— Iain Pears

A hundred francs! Oh, dear me! It is worth millions of francs, my child. But my -- dealer -- here tells me that in fact a picture is worth only what someone will give for it. How much money do you have?" Julia took out her purse and counted. "Four francs and twenty sous," she said, looking up at him sadly." Is that all the money you have in the world?" She nodded." Then four francs and twenty sous it is.

— Iain Pears

Although of course I am aware that it changes color in a jar. But we know why, surely? The heavier melancholic elements in the blood sink, making the top lighter and the bottom darker."" Not so," I said firmly. "Cover the jar, and the color does not change. And I can find no explanation of how such separation could occur in the lungs. But when it emerges from the lungs - at least, this is the case in cats - it is very much lighter in color than when it goes in, indicating that some darkness is withdrawn from it."" I must cut up a cat and see for myself. A live cat, was it?"" It was for a while.

— Iain Pears

And here was the moment. The end of it all, for civilization was merely another name for friendship, and friendship was coming to an end.

— Iain Pears

Camus was one of those who gloried in his ignorance, called his lack of letters purity, scorned any subtlety of thought or expression. A man for his time, indeed.

— Iain Pears

Civilization depends on continually making the effort, of never giving in. It needs to be cared for by men of goodwill, protected from the dark.

— Iain Pears

Considering he was neither priest nor scholar, the young man gave sensible, thoughtful replies -- the more so, perhaps, for being untrained, for he had not learned what he should believe or should not believe. Present a statement to him in flagrant contradiction to all Christian doctrine and he could be persuaded to agree on its good sense, unless he remembered it was the sort of thing of which pyres are made for the incautious.

— Iain Pears

Diplomacy and virtue do not make easy companions.

— Iain Pears

Do you know, the only people I can have a conversation with are the Jews? At least when they quote scripture at you, they are not merely repeating something some priest has babbled in their ear. They have the great merit of disagreeing with nearly everything I say. In fact, they disagree with almost everything they say themselves. And most importantly, they don't think that shouting strengthens their argument.

— Iain Pears

Do you wish to speak in Provençal, French, or Latin? They are all I can manage, I'm afraid."" Any will do," the rabbi replied in Provençal." Splendid. Latin it is," said Pope Clement.

— Iain Pears