The Chapter entitled "Intermission" from "Time Enough for Love" by Robert A Heinlein is a collection of aphorisms without stories. These are ones I found amusing:
History does not record anywhere at any time a religion that has any rational basis. Religion is a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up to the unknown without any help. But like dandruff, most people do have a religion and spend time and money on it and seem to derive considerable pleasure from fiddling with it.
Men rarely (if ever) manage to dream up a god superior to themselves. Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child.
Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate—and quickly.
Never appeal to a man's "better nature." He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.
In a mature society, "civil servant" is semantically equal to "civil master".