“[T]he concern of man is not his future but his present, not the world but his soul. We must be just, we must strive, we must engage ourselves with the business of the world for our own sake, because through that, and through contemplation in equal measure, our soul is purified and brought closer to the divine. ... Thought and deed conjoined are crucial. ... The attempt must be made; the outcome is irrelevant. Right action is a pale material reflection of the divine, but reflection it is, nonetheless. Define your goal and exert reason to accomplish it by virtuous action; successs or failure is secondary.” PhilosophyActionSuccessMankindFailureFutureDeedsGoalsThoughtDivinityPresentSoulsPurification Book:The Dream of Scipio Source: The Dream of Scipio
“Olivier took a deep breath, then turned and bowed in farewell. Gersonides nodded in return, then thought of something. "The manuscript you brought me, by that bishop. It argues that understanding is more important than movement. That action is virtuous only if it reflects pure comprehension, and that virtue comes from the comprehension, not the action." Olivier frowned. "So?" "Dear boy, I must tell you a secret." "What?" "I do believe it is wrong.” PhilosophyActionUnderstandingVirtueWrongRightComprehension Book:The Dream of Scipio Source: The Dream of Scipio
“The point of civilization is to be civilized; the purpose of action is to perpetuate society, for only in society can philosophy truly take place.” PhilosophyActionPurposeCivilizationCivilized Book:Dream of Scipio Source: Dream of Scipio
“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 Source: Dream of Scipio
