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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'.

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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

“That food nourishes, sleep refreshes, and fire warms us; that to sow in the seed-time is the way to reap in the harvest, and, in general, that to obtain such or such ends, such or such means are conducive, all this we know, not by discovering any necessary connexion between our ideas, but only by the observation of the settled laws of nature, without which we should be all in uncertainty and confusion, and a grown man no more know how to manage himself in the affairs of life than an infant just born.”

Source: Principles of Human Knowledge

“The real essence, the internal qualities, and constitution of even the meanest object, is hid from our view; something there is inevery drop of water, every grain of sand, which it is beyond the power of human understanding to fathom or comprehend. But it is evidentthat we are influenced by false principles to that degree as to mistrust our senses, and think we know nothing of those things which we perfectly comprehend.”

“How often must I repeat, that I know or am conscious of my own being; and that I myself am not my ideas, but somewhat else, a thinking, active principle that perceives, knows, wills, and operates about ideas?”

Thinking Knows Ideas My Own Existence Consciousness Principles Perception Conscious Active Perceive Repeats

Book:Works: Account of His Life and Letters

Source: Works: Account of His Life and Letters

“If what you mean by the word "matter" be only the unknown support of unknown qualities, it is no matter whether there is such a thing or no, since it no way concerns us; and I do not see the advantage there is in disputing about what we know not what, and we know not why.”

Ifs Knows Way Mean Matter Quality Support Advantage Concern Words Matter

Book:Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues

Source: Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues

“In short, if there were external bodies, it is impossible we should ever come to know it; and if there were not, we might have the very same reasons to think there were that we have now.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Should Reason Body Might Impossible

Book:Principles of Human Knowledge: Human Understanding

Source: Principles of Human Knowledge: Human Understanding

“Many things, for aught I know, may exist, whereof neither I nor any other man hath or can have any idea or notion whatsoever.”

Knows Men May Ideas Notion

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