African Spir Biography & Quotes

“We can, following the exemple of Kant, consider the moral development and improvement of men, as the supreme goal of human evolution.”

Men Humans Goal Moral Development Evolution Following Improvement Supreme Human Evolution Moral Development

Author:African Spir

“If man do not find in himself the required (or wished, or wanted, - "voulue", Fr.) force to accomplish his moral aspirations, he can try to purt himself in the conditions suitable to assist (or promote, or further, -"favoriser", Fr.) his self-control.”

Ifs Men Trying Self Wanted Force Moral Conditions Accomplish Aspiration Self Control Suitable

Author:African Spir

“The moral improvement demands an evolution leading to a higher consciousness.”

Consciousness Moral Evolution Higher Demand Improvement Higher Consciousness

Author:African Spir

“Place (or put) a spider on top of a mountain, it will only try to catch flies; alas, they are many those who, in the figurative meaning, have spider's eyes.”

Trying Eye Mountain Alas Spiders

Author:African Spir

“In life we only try to produce, to win, and enjoy the more we can; in science, to discoverand invent the more we can; in religion, to dominate (or rule over) on the greatest number of people we can; whereas the forming of the character, the further development (or in-dept analysis, "appronfondissement", Fr.) of the faculties of the intelligence ("les facultés de l'intelligence", Fr.), the refinement of the consciousness and of the heart, are considered incidental (or subordinate) things.”

People Trying Heart Character Winning Enjoy Numbers Consciousness Produce Development Analysis Faculty Subordinates Refinement

Author:African Spir

“What is the use for a man to have at his disposal a large field of action, if within himself he remains confine to the narrow limits of his individuality.”

Ifs Men Use Action Fields Limits Remains Individuality

Author:African Spir

“A good man ("un homme de bien", Fr.) never wholly perishes, the best part of his being outlives (or survives) in eternity.”

Men Eternity Good Man

Author:African Spir

“Nothing that rest on some contradictory basis shall succeed or last in the long run ("ne saurait réussir ou durer, à la longue", Fr.); all that involve (or imply...) a contradiction is fatally destined, early or late, to disintegrate and disappear.”

Long Running Lasts Succeed Late Bases Disappear Contradiction Long Runs Destined Contradictory

Author:African Spir

“The appalling and shameful scene ("spectacle", Fr.) of disarray and illogicality that manifest itself in the thought and deeds of men, will no longer be seen, once these will possess an enlighten consciouness.”

Men Scene Deeds Manifest Enlightening Shameful Disarray

Author:African Spir

“Man is in pursuit of two goals: he is looking for happinesse and, being by essence empty ("étant vide par essence", Fr.), he is trying to fill (or take up, - "remplir", Fr.) his life; the latter reason play a more considerable role than we ordinarily think. What we take for vainglory, ambition, love of power and riches (or wealth), is often, indeed, a need to mask this emptiness, a need to let one's hair down (or to live it up), to put oneself on a false scent or trail. (de se donner le change", Fr.)”

Thinking Men Needs Trying Two Reason Play Goal Wealth Roles Hair Ambition Empty Essence Oneself Riches Pursuit Emptiness Latter Mask Scent Trails Live It Up

Author:African Spir

“Education has a tremendous power on man. Can't we see to which astonishing disciple the people of Sparte have submitted ("s'est plié", Fr.) for centuries, and this with a view to very petty purposes: purely outer greatness, the military predominace of Sparte. This example proves that man can everything on themselves when they want it ("peuvent tout sur eux-mêmes quand ils le veulent", Fr.); therefore it would only be a question of making them will the good.”

People Men Want Purpose Views Century Military Example Greatness Prove Disciple Petty Astonishing

Author:African Spir

“A man, engaged in his simple reflections in everyday life, will comprehend neither the possibility, nor the benefits of self-sacrifice, but, when given ("qu'on lui donne", Fr.) a great cause to defend, and he will find only natural to sacrifice oneself for it.”

Men Self Given Causes Natural Simple Sacrifice Possibility Benefits Reflection Everyday Oneself Engaged Everyday Life Self Sacrifice Donne

Author:African Spir

“The basic notion of justice, is that the rights of everybody are equals, in principle. In the rights of others, we have to respect our own rights. It is only in that condition that we can reasonnably require that it be respected by others.”

Justice Principles Rights Conditions Notion

Author:African Spir

“The fact that men have a same origin and live in the same universe means that they are representatives of a same unity. Deep down, they are also related (or connected) among them; that they consider (or not) themselves as strangers, this just depends on the feeling (or sensation) that dictate their relationships. In their country, two fellow coutrymen whose paths berely cross (or see each only only briefly) with inferrence, would effusively rush themselves up (or throw themselves) into each other arms if they would happen to meet in a desert, among Cannibles.”

Ifs Men Mean Two Country Facts Feelings Happens Universe Path Arms Depends Crosses Fellows Unity Stranger Connected Desert Related Sensations Representatives Deep Down

Author:African Spir

“Infringing upon (or encroaching) the right of a single person, we overthrow (or turn upside down) the whole order on which rest legal agreements; for if we break (or transgress or violate) the undertakings enter unto ("les engagements contractés", Fr.), nothing assure that we will not break them, possibly ("éventuellement", Fr.) in another.”

Ifs Persons Whole Order Turns Break Agreement Contracts Engagement Upside Down Undertakings Single Person

Author:African Spir

“It depends on ourselves to be to each others, either a blessing or a torment.”

Depends Blessing Torment

Author:African Spir

“Besides the progress of industry and technique, we see a growing discontent among the masses; we see, besides the expansion ("expansion,", Fr.) of instruction, distrust and hatred expanding among nations ("s'étendre la méfiance et la haine entre," Fr.), that vie with one another ("qui rivalisent à l'envi," Fr.), by the increase of their armies and the improvement of their engines of murder ("engins meurtriers", Fr).”

Nations Growing Progress Industry Mass Hatred Increase Army Murder Technique Improvement Engines Instruction Expansion Distrust Expanding Discontent Fiance

Author:African Spir

“The feeling ("sens", Fr.) of solidarity that is born amidst a community rest on the feeling of antagonism arouse (aroused ? arose ?... sorry, - "suscité", Fr.) by those who are opposed to it. Most of the time we only adhere to a party or a group, in order to better (or more, - "pour mieux se", Fr.) differentiate ourselves of another.”

Feelings Order Born Community Party Groups Sorry Senses Solidarity Differentiate Antagonism

Author:African Spir

“So many forces and resources would become available if States, aware (or conscious) of their true (or real) mission, would want to get on (or agree) to abolish every politics aiming at ("visant à", Fr.) expansion or hegemony; system that maintain among nations a a perpetual distrust and tension, impose on them (or force or compel, "leur impose", Fr.) formidable armies and crushing war budgets.”

Ifs Want War Real States Force Nations Conscious Resources Army Agree Available Missions Budgets Tension Crush Perpetual Expansion Distrust Abolish Formidable Hegemony

Author:African Spir

“Moral improvement (or perfecting) require an evolution leading to a higher consciousness, which is the true torch of life; it is what we have failed too much to appreciate, and that which would be fatal to fail to appreciate any longer ("pluslongtemps", Fr.); For if we do not take it upon ourselves to remedy in time to the moral colapse (or bankruptcy) that already threaten, the whole civilisation will risks to disappear.”

Ifs Whole Would Be Consciousness Moral Too Much Failing Risk Evolution Higher Appreciate Disappear Improvement Remedy Civilisation Torches Bankruptcy Higher Consciousness

Author:African Spir

“The supreme blossoming of character lies (or reside) in renounciation (or renuncement) and abnegation of self ("abnégation de soi", Fr.)”

Self Character Lying Supreme Blossoming Abnegation

Author:African Spir

“Whether we had a (good) moral intuition more developed, we would be as much morally disgusted by the rapacity of those who try to benefit from, and monopolize (or secure or corner), having no consideration (regardless or irrespective of) for others ("autrui", Fr.), than we physically are by a sickening (or nauseating) smell.”

Trying Would Be Moral Benefits Corners Intuition Smell Secure Consideration Disgusted Good Moral

Author:African Spir

“As the antagonism between those who possess, and those who do not, is becoming more acute day after day, we can already foresee a moment when it will bring about ("entraînera", Fr.) severe (big, high, intense, - "grands", Fr.) disasters, if we do turn (direct, aim, - "dirige", Fr.) life in time the social life in new directions (or ways, - "dans des voies nouvelles", Fr.)”

Ifs Way Moments Bigs Turns Social Becoming Direct Aim Disaster Intense Severe Social Life Becoming More Antagonism New Directions

Author:African Spir

“Religion is not simply a theory, it is a higher life, of which morality is an integral part - a life devoted to the worship of the good and the true, for God, the absolute, is the supreme source of all perfection" ("La religion n'et pas une smple théorie, elle est une vie supérieure, dont la moralité fait partie intégrante - une vie vouée au culte du bien et du vrai, car Dieu, l'absolu est la source de toute perfection", Fr.)”

Car Theory Source Higher Morality Worship Perfection Absolutes Supreme Devoted

Author:African Spir

“The precept to worship God 'in spirit and in truth' recommand to worship him as an inward and moral force, without physical attributes and with no relation to fears and egoist wishes.”

Spirit Force Wish Moral Worship Relation Attributes Inward Worship God

Author:African Spir

“The concept of absolute, hence (or whence) springs, in the moral field, the moral laws or norms, represent, in the field of knowledge, the principle of identity, which is the fundamental law of the thought; norms of logic springs from it, that govern the thought (or mind) in the field of science." ("Le concept de l'absolu, d'où découlent, dans le domaine moral, les lois ou normes morales, constitue, le principe d'identité, qui est la loi fondamentale de la pensée; il en découle les normes logiques qui régissent la pensée dans le domaine de la science.")”

Mind Law Moral Principles Fields Identity Spring Concepts Logic Absolutes Fundamentals Pens Norm Morale Moral Law

Author:African Spir

“The divine element manifests itself (or show up) in man as well by his aptitude for science, than by his aptitude for virtue. True morality, true philosophy and true art are in their essence ("dans leur essence", Fr.) religious."”

Men Wells Art Philosophy Shows Religious Virtue Divine Morality Elements Essence Aptitude

Author:African Spir

“There are (or is) indeed no contradiction between science and religion, the fields of which are different, and which, far from mutually fighting and persecute, must, on the contrary, complete each other.”

Different Fighting Fields Contrary Contradiction Science And Religion

Author:African Spir

“The more a man is successful in getting out (or coming out) from his own individuality, of his egoist self, and to control (or dominate) the instincts of his physical nature, the more his character, by rising above material contingencies, widen, become free and independent.”

Men Self Character Successful Materials Independent Instinct Individuality Rising Coming Out Rise Above Contingency

Author:African Spir

“When under the influence of certain (or some) reasons (or causes) (alcohol, war, etc - added Spir here) the low instincts are unbridled (or unrestrained), the brute appears (or come forward, "apparait", Fr.) and rule over (or dominate), stifling every ("toute", Fr.) noble, generous impulse; it is then the ruin (or downfall or decline) of any humanity in man.”

Men War Reason Certain Humanity Causes Influence Lows Instinct Noble Alcohol Ruins Impulse Generous Etc Decline Brutes Downfall Stifling

Author:African Spir

“Outward, thanks to the knowledge of physical laws, man could subdue (or subjugate...) nature, but inwardly, he remained a slave to it. For, when all is said and done, at what is aiming all this display (or deployment) of activity, if not to realized outward profits, to provide material pleasure (or enjoyment). It is not the first time that men sell their birth right for a dish of lentils, and thus disown (or repudiate or deny) the best of thmeselves.”

Ifs Men Firsts Said Done Law Pleasure Materials Birth Activity First Time Sells Slave Profit Deny Thanks Enjoyment Display Dishes Said And Done Deployment Lentils

Author:African Spir

“The need for sociability induce man to be in touch with his fellow men. However, this need might not ("ne saurait", Fr.) find its full (or complete) satisfaction in the conventional (or superficial, - "conventionnel", Fr.) and deceitful world, in which (or where) everyone is mainly (or mostly) trying to assert oneself in front of others ("devant les autres", Fr.), to appear, and hoping to find in society ("mondaine", Fr.) relationships some advantages for his interest and vanity (or vainglory or conceit", Fr).”

Men World Needs Trying Might Interest Fronts Advantage Fellows Oneself Satisfaction Vanity Conventional Superficial Fellow Man Conceit Deceitful Sociability

Author:African Spir

“Experience shows that what great role pratice and experience play in education; pratice, the prolonged exercice lead to habit: exemple suggests imitation. Habit can become a second nature, but, wrongly directed (or guided), it may also heighten (or intensify) unfortunate tendencies and be an obstacle to progress.”

May Play Shows Roles Progress Habit Obstacles Tendencies Unfortunate Imitation

Author:African Spir

“There are some who esteem that it is a naivety to believe that a moral regeneration may be possible ("soit possible", Fr.); now, if this was not the case, it would not be worth the trouble that humanity continue to vegetate without aim.”

Ifs Believe May Humanity Moral Cases Trouble Aim Esteem Regeneration Naivety

Author:African Spir

“To reform society, and with it humanity, there is only one mean; to transform the mentality of men, to direct them ("les orienter", Fr.) in a new spirit.”

Men Mean Spirit Humanity He Man Direct Reform Mentality

Author:African Spir

“The realization of justice is, in the actual state of things, a matter of life or death for society and for civilisation itself.”

Matter States Justice Realization Civilisation Life Or Death

Author:African Spir

“Deep down, everything boils down ("au fond tout se ramène", Fr.) to the following simple question; Do we really want justice and the realization in this world of higher principles, or else do we want to serve selfish, short-sighted (à courte vue", Fr.) interests, which, when all is said and done, are also prejudicial (or detrimental, or harmful) to those very same that pursue them?”

World Want Said Done Interest Justice Simple Principles This World Higher Following Selfish Pursue Realization Deep Down Said And Done Detrimental Rams Short Sighted

Author:African Spir

“The first principle from which stems the moral of about all people at all time; it is summarized in this precept: Love thy neighbour as thyself, and: do as you would be done by.”

People Firsts Done Would Be Moral Principles All Time Stem Thyself Neighbour

Author:African Spir

“If pity was always equally alive and acting in all individuals and in all circumstances, we could do away with moral. Unfortunately, it is not compassion, but rather it's contrary, selfishness, that act most strongly in us.”

Ifs Individual Acting Compassion Moral Alive Circumstances Contrary Pity Selfishness

Author:African Spir

“In this world everything that is won to the ideal, is an eternal (or imperishable, - "impérissable", Fr.) good.”

World This World Eternal Ideals

Author:African Spir

“Nothing is more stimulating and more salutary to (or for) the inner (or inward) development than the exemple of men devoted to the good. It is in the company of men pursuing a same ideal that the still weavering (or unsteady) soul can set oneself ("se fixer", Fr) and stick to (or attach to) everything that is noble and generous.”

Men Stills Soul Company Development Ideals Sticks Oneself Noble Generous Devoted Inward Fixers

Author:African Spir

“Men who have sacrifice their well-being, and even their lives, for the cause of truth or the public good, are, from an empirical point of view - which scorn ("fait fi", Fr.) virtue and altruism - regarded as insane or fools; but, from a moral standpoint, they are heros who do honour ("qui honorent", Fr.) humanity.”

Men Wells Humanity Causes Views Moral Virtue Sacrifice Fool Hero Point Of View Insane Well Being Honour Altruism Scorn Standpoint Public Good

Author:African Spir

“The antagonism between nationalities will lose all its acuteness on the day when neither the iniquitous tendency to oppression and domination, nor the perpetual danger of the threatening preparations for war will exist. ("L'antagonisme entre les nationalités perdra toute son acuité le jour où n'existera plus la tendance inique à l'oppression et à la domination, ni le perpétuel danger des menaçants préparatifs de guerre. », Fr. ")”

War Loses Danger Son Tendencies Oppression Preparation Plus Perpetual Threatening Domination Ants Nationality Antagonism

Author:African Spir

“In ancient times, any man rising up above the common people tried to shape his life according to his principles; it is no longer like than now; it is (because) for the ancients, moral was a principle of inner life, whereas in our days, most of the time one is content to adhere to an official moral, that we recognize in theory, but that one does not care to put into practice.”

People Men Doe Care Common Moral Principles Practice Theory Shapes Ancient Officials Rising Inner Life Ancient Times Rising Up

Author:African Spir

“If the present civilisation does not acquire some stable moral fondations ("bases morales stables", Fr.), its existence will hardly be more assured than that of the civilisations that have preceeded it, and which have fallen (or collapse, or failed).”

Ifs Doe Existence Moral Bases Fallen Acquire Stable Collapse Assured Civilisation Morale

Author:African Spir

“In the actual state of social relationships, the forms ("formes", Fr.) of politeness are necessary as a subsitute to benevolence.”

States Form Social Benevolence Politeness Social Relationships

Author:African Spir

“Whoever has recognized the vainglory of individuality will not attach any store ("n'attachera aucun prix à", Fr.) to fame. The only one thing which is really valuable, it is to do good.”

One Thing Fame Individuality Valuable Stores

Author:African Spir

“The more gifted by nature is a man, the more is deplorable the abuse that he does by using them to shameful ends. A swindler (or crook) of higher condition is more blameworthy than a vulgar scoundrel; an intelligent eveil-doer, having benefited from a higher education, represent a more saddening phenomenon ("phénomène", Fr.) than an unfortune illiterate fellow having commited an offence.”

Men Doe Ends Conditions Higher Abuse Intelligent Fellows Phenomenon Gifted Vulgar Shameful Doers Illiterate Offence Higher Education Scoundrels Crooks Swindlers Saddening

Author:African Spir

“Possessions of this world have not been for the exclusive use by such or such category of individuals.”

World Use Individual This World Possession Categories Exclusive

Author:African Spir

“The distinction between right and wrong ("la distinction du bien et du mal", Fr.), is nothing else than their unyielding (or implacable) opposition; thus the moral consciousness is an innate and intimate revelation of the absolute, which goes beyond (or goes pass, or exceed) every empirical data (or given information). It is only on these principles that we will be able to establish ("pourront être édifiées", Fr.) the real basis of morality.”

Real Able Given Consciousness Moral Principles Information Morality Bases Absolutes Data Intimate Revelations Distinction Opposition Innate Exceed Unyielding

Author:African Spir

African Spir Biography

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