Four years of world war at a cost in human suffering which our minds are mercifully too limited to imagine led to the very clear realization that international anarchy must be abandoned if civilization was to survive.

Like all young men I set out to be a genius but mercifully laughter intervened.

And I pray thee loving Jesus that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face.

It is a curious sensation: the sort of pain that goes mercifully beyond our powers of feeling. When your heart is broken your boats are burned: nothing matters any more. It is the end of happiness and the beginning of peace.