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Isaiah Berlin

Isaiah Berlin Quotes

Philosopher

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Famous Isaiah Berlin Quotes

“One belief, more than any other, is responsible for the slaughter of individuals on the alter of the great historical ideas - justice or progress or happiness of future generations... or emancipation of a nation or race or class... this is the belief that somewhere... there is a final solution.”

IdeasIndividualBeliefNationsJusticeRaceClassProgressGenerationsAtheismSolutionsResponsibleHistoricalFinalsPositive AtheismFuture GenerationSlaughterEmancipationGreat Historical
Author:Isaiah Berlin
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“Few things have done more harm than the belief on the part of individuals or groups (or tribes or states or nations or churches) that he or she or they are in sole possession of the truth: especially about how to live, what to be and do - and that those who differ from them are not merely mistaken, but wicked or mad: and need restraining or suppressing.”

NeedsStatesDoneIndividualBeliefNationsChurchGroupsMadPossessionHarmWickedSoleMistakenTribesSuppressingRestraining
Author:Isaiah Berlin
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“Conformities are called for much more eagerly today than yesterday... skeptics, liberals, individuals with a taste for private life and their own inner standards of behavior, are objects of fear and derision and targets of persecution for either side... in the great ideological wars of our time.”

WarTodayIndividualSidesObjectsTasteBehaviorStandardsYesterdayTyrannyOur TimeTargetConformityTyrantsPersecutionPrivate LifeIdeologicalSkepticDerision
Author:Isaiah Berlin
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