Quotessence
Home / Books / Dream of Scipio

Dream of Scipio

Book by Iain Pears · 12 quotes · Knows, Men, Philosophy

Filter quotes by topic

AllKnowsMenPhilosophyWorldActionCivilizationIfsPeoplePurposeThinkingYearsAbsurdityAcheActivityAdviceAffairAlexandriaArguingArgumentBears

Dream of Scipio Quotes

“Was not Hypatia the greatest philosopher of Alexandria, and a true martyr to the old values of learning? She was torn to pieces by a mob of incensed Christians not because she was a woman, but because her learning was so profound, her skills at dialectic so extensive that she reduced all who queried her to embarrassed silence. They could not argue with her, so they murdered her.”

ChristianValuesSilencePiecesSkillsProfoundPhilosopherArguingEmbarrassedTornMartyrDialecticsAlexandriaOld Values
Book:Dream of Scipio
Create image

“Do you know, the only people I can have a conversation with are the Jews? At least when they quote scripture at you they are not merely repeating something some priest has babbled in their ear. They have the great merit of disagreeing with nearly everything I say. In fact, they disagree with almost everything they say themselves. And most importantly, they don't think that shouting strengthens their argument.”

PeopleThinkingKnowsI CanFactsConversationArgumentEarsJewScriptureMeritPriestsDo You KnowDisagreeDisagreementShouting
Book:Dream of Scipio
Create image

“Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it sees the irrationality of others, it must seek to correct it, and can do this either by teaching or engaging in public affairs itself, correcting through its practice. And the purpose of action is to enable philosophy to continue, for if men are reduced to the material alone, they become no more than beasts.”

IfsMenSoulPhilosophyActionPurposeCan DoPracticeTeachingMaterialsActivityAffairRationalBeastCombatEngagingCorrectingIrrationalityPublic Affairs
Book:Dream of Scipio
Create image

“When all this is over, people will try to blame the Germans alone, and the Germans will try to blame the Nazis alone, and the Nazis will try to blame Hitler alone. They will make him bear the sins of the world. But it's not true. You suspected what was happening, and so did I. It was already too late over a year ago. I caused a reporter to lose his job because you told me to. He was deported. The day I did that I made my little contribution to civilization, the only one that matters.”

PeopleWorldTryingYearsLittlesMadeMatterJobsLosesSinBearsCivilizationLateHappeningsYears AgoBlameContributionToo LateReportersNaziTrue YouWillful Ignorance
Book:Dream of Scipio
Create image

“Manlius ... took care in his invitations, actively sought to exclude from his circle crude and vulgar men like Caius Valerius. But they were all around; it was Manlius who lived in a dream world, and his bubble of civility was becoming smaller and smaller. Caius Valerius, powerful member of a powerful family, had never even heard of Plato. A hundred, even fifty years before, such an absurdity would have been inconceivable. Now it was surprising if such a man did know anything of philosophy, and even if it was explained, he would not wish to understand.”

IfsKnowsMenWorldYearsHas BeensPhilosophyDreamCareWishPowerfulHeardBecomingMembersHundredCirclesFiftySurprisingBubblesAbsurdityPlatoVulgarInvitationsCivilityCrudeDream World
Book:Dream of Scipio
Create image