The worst cynicism: a belief in luck.

-Myles na Gopaleen
  Do WhatYou Will, pt.2, ch.15.

When you have had a glimpse of such a disaster as this†the result is not necessarily disillusionment and cynicism.Curiously enough, the whole experience has left me with not less but more belief in the decency of human beings.

-Orwell, George pseudonym of  Eric Arthur Blair
  Homage to Catalonia, ch.14.

   During my tenure of power, myearnest wish has beento impress the people of this country with a belief that the legislature was animated bya sincere desire to frame its legislation upon the principles of equity and justice† Deprive me of power tomorrow, but you can never deprive me of the consciousness that I have exercised the powers committed to me from no corrupt or interested motives, from no desire to gratifyambition, or to attain any personal object.

-Peel, Sir Robert
  On the repeal of the Corn Laws, House of Commons, 15 May.

The belief that we can start with pure observations alone, without anything in the nature of a theory, is absurd.

-Popper, Sir Karl Raimund
  Conjectures and Refutations (published1963), ch.1.

To be forced by desire into any unwarrantable belief is a calamity.

-Richards, I(vor) A(rmstrong)
  Principles of Literary Criticism.

Let me assert my belief that the only thing that we have to fear is fear itselfönameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror that paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

-Roosevelt, Franklin D(elano)
  Inaugural address, 4 Mar.

As Michael read the Gaelic scroll It seemed the story of the soul; And those who wrought, lest there should fail From earth the legend of the Gael, Seemed warriors of Eternal Mind Still holding in a world gone blind, From which belief and hope had gone, The lovely magic of its dawn.

-Russell, GeorgeWilliam pseudonym  Ó
  The Interpreters,'Michael'.

The expedition had now performed its functions. I saw that old father Nile without any doubt rises in the Victoria Nyanza, and as I had foretold, that lake is the great source of the holy river which cradled the first expounder of our religious belief.

-Speke,John Hanning
  Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile.

After one has abandoned a belief in God, poetry is the essence which takes its place as life's redemption.

-Stevens,Wallace
  Opus Posthumous, Aphorisms,'Adagia'.

Never think that you're not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you much at your own reckoning.

-Trollope, Anthony
  Lord De Guest to Johnny. The Small House at Allington, ch.32.

The French are polite, but it is often mere ceremonious politeness. A Russian imbues his polite things with a heartiness that compels belief in their sincerity.

-Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens
  The Innocents Abroad.

I can answer for but three things: a firm belief in the justice of ourcause, close attention in the prosecution of it, and the strictest integrity.

-Washington, BookerTaliaferro
  On being elected Commander of the Unionist Army,19 Jun.

Thereisa species of personcalleda'ModernChurchman' who draws the full salary of a beneficed clergyman and need not commit himself to any religious belief.

-Waugh, Evelyn Arthur StJohn
  Decline and Fall, pt.2, ch.4.

'Beauty' is a currency like the gold standard. Like any economy it is determined by politics, and in the modern age in theWest it isthe last, best belief systemthat keeps male domination intact.

-Wolf, Naomi
  The Beauty Myth, ch.1,'The Beauty Myth'.