In 1947 he had allowed himself to be persuaded to abolish capital punishment in Russia. This did not mean he stopped killing people: - Paul Johnson

To be an American citizen is one of the world’s great prizes.

Shelley’s love was deep, sincere, passionate, indeed everlasting-but it was always changing its object.

Julian recognized that the strength of the orthodox Church rested to a great extent on the imperial discrimination in its favour. According to Ammianus, he tried to atomize the Church by ending the system:

<blockquote>'He ordered the priests of the different Christian sects, and their supporters to be admitted to the palace, and politely expressed his wish that, their quarrels being over, each might follow his own beliefs without hindrance or fear. He thought that freedom to argue their beliefs would simply deepen their differences, so that he would never be faced by a united common people. He found from experience that no wild beasts are as hostile to men, as Christians are to each other.'</blockquote>