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Quote by Clive James

“All intellectual tendencies are corrupted when they consort with power.”

Author

Clive James, born on October 7, 1939, is an Australian author, critic, and broadcaster. His works span poetry, fiction, essays, and literary criticism, known for their unique humor and insightful observations. more

“As a survival-happy species, our successes are calculated in the number of years we have extended our lives, with the reduction of suffering being only incidental to this aim. To stay alive under almost any circumstances is a sickness with us. Nothing could be more unhealthy than to “watch one’s health” as a means of stalling death. The lengths we will go as procrastinators of that last gasp only demonstrate a morbid dread of that event. By contrast, our fear of suffering is deficient.”

“Don't say anything, because I see that you understand me, and I am afraid of your understanding. I have such a fear of finding another like myself, and such a desire to find one! I am so utterly lonely, but I also have such a fear that my isolation be broken through, and I no longer be the head and ruler of my universe. I am in great terror of your understanding by which you penetrate into my world; and then I stand revealed and I have to share my kingdom with you.”

World Desire Universe Understanding Share Broken Findings Lonely Terror Kingdoms Isolation Rulers Say Anything Penetrate Understand Me

Author:Anais Nin

“It is necessary to fall in love... if only to provide an alibi for all the random despair you are going to feel anyway.”

Ifs Feels Fall Despair Falling In Love Existentialism

Author:Albert Camus

“Poetry isn't like any writing I've ever heard before. I don't understand all of it, just bits of images, sentences that appear half-finished, all fluttering together like brightly colored ribbons in the wind.”

Writing Together Bits Half Heard Wind Sentences Finished Ribbons Fluttering

Author:Lauren Oliver

“No one can be a great thinker who does not recognize that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead.”

Firsts May Doe Duty Intellect Conclusion Thinker Great Thinkers

Book:On Liberty

Source: On Liberty

“Both teachers and learners go to sleep at their post as soon as there is no enemy in the field.”

Sleep Enemy Teacher Fields Posts Going To Sleep Learners

Book:Utilitarianism and On Liberty: Including 'Essay on Bentham' and Selections from the Writings of Jeremy Bentham and John Austin

Source: Utilitarianism and On Liberty: Including 'Essay on Bentham' and Selections from the Writings of Jeremy Bentham and John Austin

“Persons of genius, it is true, are, and are always likely to be, a small minority; but in order to have them, it is necessary to preserve the soil in which they grow.”

Persons Order Grows Genius Preserves Soil Minorities

Book:The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill

Source: The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill

Quote by Clive James

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