Quotes from Pope John Paul (II)

The greatness of work is inside man.

The culture of life means respect for nature and protection of God's work of creation. In a special way it means respect for human life from the first moment of conception until its natural end.

Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it.

Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it.

Will... the threat of common extermination continue?... Must children receive the arms race from us as a necessary inheritance?

Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.

Radical changes in world politics leave America with a heightened responsibility to be, for the world, an example of a genuinely free, democratic, just and humane society.

Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.

War is a defeat for humanity.

Young people are threatened... by the evil use of advertising techniques that stimulate the natural inclination to avoid hard work by promising the immediate satisfaction of every desire.

When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.

I hope to have communion with the people, that is the most important thing.

Violence and arms can never resolve the problems of men.

I have a sweet tooth for song and music. This is my Polish sin.

Pervading nationalism imposes its dominion on man today in many different forms and with an aggressiveness that spares no one. The challenge that is already with us is the temptation to accept as true freedom what in reality is only a new form of slavery.

You are our dearly beloved brothers, and in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.

If you wish to be brothers, drop your weapons.

Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.

There are people and nations, Mother, that I would like to say to you by name. I entrust them to you in silence, I entrust them to you in the way that you know best.

I kiss the soil as if I placed a kiss on the hands of a mother, for the homeland is our earthly mother. I consider it my duty to be with my compatriots in this sublime and difficult moment.

The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.

War should belong to the tragic past, to history: it should find no place on humanity's agenda for the future.

You will reciprocally promise love, loyalty and matrimonial honesty. We only want for you this day that these words constitute the principle of your entire life and that with the help of divine grace you will observe these solemn vows that today, before God, you formulate.