Home / Authors / George Berkeley

George Berkeley Quotes

Philosopher

George Berkeley, born on March 12, 1685, and died on January 12, 1753, was a renowned philosopher of the 18th century. He is best known for his idealist philosophy, advocating the view that existence is dependent on perception. His major works include 'Principles of Human Knowledge' and 'A New Theory of Vision'.

Filter quotes by topic

All Men Mind Ifs Thinking May Ideas Should Reason World Existence Humans Firsts Knows Mean My Own Body Liberty Principles Soul Way

Famous George Berkeley Quotes

“A man needs no arguments to make him discern and approve what is beautiful: it strikes at first sight, and attracts without a reason. And as this beauty is found in the shape and form of corporeal things, so also is there analogous to it a beauty of another kind, an order, a symmetry, and comeliness in the moral world. And as the eye perceiveth the one, so the mind doth by a certain interior sense perceive the other, which sense, talent, or faculty, is ever quickest and purest in the noblest minds.”

Source: Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. In Seven Dialogues Containing an Apology for the Christian Religion Against Those who are Called Free-thinkers

“It is a mistake, to think the same thing affects both sight and touch. If the same angle or square, which is the object of touch,be also the object of vision, what should hinder the blind man, at first sight, from knowing it?”

Ifs Thinking Men Should Firsts Mistake Vision Knowing Objects Sight Blind Squares Angle Hinder Blind Man

Book:The Works of George Berkeley, D.D., Bishop of Cloyne: Including His Letters to Thomas Prior, Esq., Dean Gervais, Mr. Pope, &c., &c. ; to which is Prefixed an Account of His Life

Source: The Works of George Berkeley, D.D., Bishop of Cloyne: Including His Letters to Thomas Prior, Esq., Dean Gervais, Mr. Pope, &c., &c. ; to which is Prefixed an Account of His Life

“The same principles which at first view lead to skepticism, pursued to a certain point, bring men back to common sense.”

Men Firsts Certain Views Common Principles Common Sense Skepticism Pursued

Book:Works

Source: Works

“We have first raised a dust and then complain we cannot see.”

Inspirational Firsts Raised Complaining Dust

Author:George Berkeley

“Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day: Time's noblest offspring is the last.”

Way Firsts Lasts Past Courses Four Drama Empires Fifth Offspring Last Day

Author:George Berkeley

“Upon the whole, I am inclined to think that the far greater part, if not all, of those difficulties which have hitherto amused philosophers, and blocked up the way to knowledge, are entirely owing to our selves. That we have first raised a dust, and then complain, we cannot see.”

Ifs Thinking Way Firsts Self Philosophy Whole Greater Difficulty Raised Philosopher Math Complaining Dust Amused Blocked Owing

Author:George Berkeley