Quotessence
Home / Authors / Eric Hoffer
Eric Hoffer

Eric Hoffer Quotes

Philosopher

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenSelfPeopleTrue BelieverLiteratureIndividualSocietyWorldHumansActionMassSeemsKnowsMovementWayIfsNeedsCausesHateMind

Famous Eric Hoffer Quotes

“Unlike the pattern which seems to prevail in the rest of life, in the human species the weak not only survive but often triumph over the strong. The self-hatred inherent in the weak unlocks energies far more formidable then those mobilized by an ordinary struggle for existence.”

HumansSelfSeemsEnergyStrongExistenceStruggleOrdinaryWeakHatredSpeciesPatternsTriumphInherentFormidableHuman SpeciesSelf HatredRest Of LifeStruggle For Existence
Book:Between the Devil and the Dragon: The Best Essays and Aphorisms of Eric Hoffer
Create image

“The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new; nor can it keep people persuaded once they have ceased to believe. It penetrates into minds already open, and rather than instill opinion it articulates and justifies opinions already present in the minds of its recipients.”

PeopleWayMindBelieveSeemsForceOpinionSocietyPropagandaJustifyPenetrateUnwillingInstillTrue Believer
Author:Eric Hoffer
Create image

“When our individual interests and prospects do not seem worth living for, we are in desperate need for something apart from us to live for. All forms of dedication, devotion, loyalty and self-surrender are in essence a desperate clinging to something which might give worth and meaning to our futile, spoiled lives.”

NeedsGivingSelfSeemsMightFormIndividualInterestSocietyEssenceLoyaltySurrenderDevotionDesperateDedicationWorth LivingSpoiledClingingProspects
Book:The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
Create image

“To think out a problem is not unlike drawing a caricature. You have to exaggerate the salient point and leave out that which is not typical. "To illustrate a principle ," says Bagehot , "you must exaggerate much and you must omit much." As to the quantity of absolute truth in a thought : it seems to me the more comprehensive and unobjectionable a thought becomes, the more clumsy and unexciting it gets. I like half-truths of a certain kind they are interesting and they stimulate.”

ThinkingKindProblemSeemsCertainInterestingHalfPrinciplesAbsolutesDrawingQuantityTypicalComprehensiveClumsyCaricaturesAbsolute TruthHalf Truth
Author:Eric Hoffer
Create image

“The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the true believer, particularly the religious individual, is a humble person. The truth is that the surrendering and humbling of the self breed pride and arrogance. The true believer is apt to see himself as one of the chosen, the salt of the earth, a prince disguised in meekness, who is destined to inherit this earth and the kingdom of heaven, too. He who is not of his faith is evil; he who will not listen shall perish.”

PersonsSelfSeemsEarthEvilIndividualHeavenReligiousHumilityPrideTruth IsHumbleBelieverImpressionKingdomsChosenDenialArroganceSaltHarshDestinedHumblingKingdom Of HeavenMeeknessTrue BelieverSelf-denialSalt Of The EarthHumble PersonPride And Arrogance
Book:THE TRUE BELIEVER
Create image

“The ignorant are a reservoir of daring. It almost seems that those who have yet to discover the known are particularly equipped for dealing with the unknown. The unlearned have often rushed in where the learned feared to tread, and it is the credulous who are tempted to attempt the impossible. They know not whither they are going, and give chance a chance.”

KnowsGivingSeemsChanceKnownImpossibleAtheismPositive AtheismIgnorantDaringTemptedReservoirs
Book:Between the Devil and the Dragon: The Best Essays and Aphorisms of Eric Hoffer
Create image

“...the differences between the conservative and the radical seem to spring mainly from their attitude toward the future. Fear of the future causes us to lean against and cling to the present, while faith in the future renders us receptive to change.”

SeemsCausesDifferencesAttitudeSpringConservativeRadicalReceptiveFear Of The Future
Book:The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
Create image

“A sublime religion inevitably generates a strong feeling of guilt. There is an unavoidable contrast between loftiness of profession and imperfection of practice. And, as one would expect, the feeling of guilt promotes hate and brazenness. Thus it seems that the more sublime the faith the more virulent the hatred it breeds.”

FeelingsSeemsHateStrongPracticeHatredGuiltProfessionImperfectionContrastSublimeStrong Feeling
Book:THE TRUE BELIEVER
Create image

“The quality of ideas seems to play a minor role in mass movement leadership. What counts is the arrogant gesture, the complete disregard of the opinion of others, the singlehanded defiance of the world.”

WorldIdeasPlaySeemsQualityOpinionRolesMovementMassGesturesArrogantMinorsDefianceDisregard
Book:Between the Devil and the Dragon: The Best Essays and Aphorisms of Eric Hoffer
Create image