Home / Authors / Joseph Butler

Joseph Butler Quotes

Philosopher

Joseph Butler was an influential British philosopher, born on May 18, 1692, and died on June 16, 1752. He is known for his moral philosophy and theological works, particularly his 'Analogy of Religion' and 'Philosophical Essays'.

Filter quotes by topic

All Affection Self Self Love Particular Passion Appetite Men Natural May Objects Principles World Doe Enjoyment Happiness Interest Mean People Satisfaction Action

Famous Joseph Butler Quotes

“The tongue may be employed about, and made to serve all the purposes of vice, in tempting and deceiving, in perjury and injustice.”

May Made Lying Purpose Injustice Vices Tongue Deceit Deceiving Employed Tempting Perjury

Book:Human Nature and other Sermons

Source: Human Nature and other Sermons

“People habituate themselves to let things pass through their minds, as one may speak, rather than to think of them. Thus by use they become satisfied merely with seeing what is said, without going any further. Review and attention, and even forming a judgment, becomes fatigue; and to lay anything before them that requires it, is putting them quite out of their way.”

People Thinking Way Mind May Said Use Speak Attention Seeing Judgment Philosophical Lays Satisfied Reviews Fatigue

Book:The Works of Joseph Butler ... To which is Prefixed, a Life of the Author

Source: The Works of Joseph Butler ... To which is Prefixed, a Life of the Author

“Every one of our passions and affections hath its natural stint and bound, which may easily be exceeded; whereas our enjoyments can possibly be but in a determinate measure and degree.”

May Passion Natural Degrees Bounds Affection Enjoyment

Book:Five Sermons, Preached at the Rolls Chapel and A Dissertation Upon the Nature of Virtue

Source: Five Sermons, Preached at the Rolls Chapel and A Dissertation Upon the Nature of Virtue

“Man may act according to that principle or inclination which for the present happens to be strongest, and yet act in a way disproportionate to, and violate his real proper nature.”

Men Way May Real Happens Principles Strongest Inclination

Book:The analogy of religion, natural and revealed, to the constitution and course of nature: to which are added, two brief dissertations : On personal identity, and On the nature of virtue; and fifteen sermons

Source: The analogy of religion, natural and revealed, to the constitution and course of nature: to which are added, two brief dissertations : On personal identity, and On the nature of virtue; and fifteen sermons