“This doctrine ['that the condition of man cannot be ameliorated, that what has been must ever be, and that to secure ourselves where we are we must tread with awful reverence in the footsteps of our fathers']is the genuine fruit of the alliance between Church and State, the tenants of which finding themselves but too well in their present condition, oppose all advances which might unmask their usurpations and monopolies of honors, wealth and power, and fear every change as endangering the comforts they now hold.” MenWellsHas BeensStatesMightFatherChurchWealthConditionsHonorComfortFindingsFruitPositive AtheismGenuineDoctrineSecureAwfulReverenceMonopolyOur FatherAlliancesChurch And StateFootstepsTenantsUsurpationPower And Fear Book:Jefferson: Writings Source: Jefferson: Writings
“Descartes, the father of modern philosophy ... would never-so he assures us-have been led to construct his philosophy if he had had only one teacher, for then he would have believed what he had been told; but, finding that his professors disagreed with each other, he was forced to conclude that no existing doctrine was certain.” IfsHas BeensPhilosophyScienceCertainFatherTeacherModernFindingsDoctrineProfessorsConstructsModern Philosophy Book:Unpopular Essays Source: Unpopular Essays
“The biggest mischief in the past century has been perpetrated by Rousseau with his doctrine of the goodness of human nature. The mob and the intellectuals derived from it the vision of a Golden Age which would arrive without fail once the noble human race could act according to its whims.” HumansHas BeensAgePastRaceVisionFailingSocietyCenturyHuman NatureGoodnessNobleDoctrineGoldenHuman RaceMischiefWhimGolden Age Author:Jacob Burckhardt
“...[sacred] doctrine is especially based upon arguments from authority, inasmuch as its principles are obtained by revelation: thus we ought to believe on the authority of those to whom the revelation has been made. Nor does this take away from the dignity of this doctrine, for although the argument from authority based on human reason is the weakest, yet the argument from authority based on divine revelation is the strongest.” BelieveHumansDoeHas BeensMadeReasonChristianPrinciplesDivineOughtAuthorityArgumentDignitySacredDoctrineRevelationsOrthodoxStrongestHuman ReasonDivine Revelation Book:The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition Source: The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition
“Religions have always stressed that compassion is not only central to religious life, it is the key to enlightenment and it the true test of spirituality. But there have always have been those who'd rather put easier goals, like doctrine conformity, in place.” Has BeensSpiritualityGoalReligiousCompassionKeysEasierEnlightenmentTestsDoctrineConformitySetting GoalsStressedReligious Life Author:Karen Armstrong
“Everyone cleaves to the doctrine he has happened upon, as to a rock against which he has been thrown by tempest.” Has BeensHappenedRocksDoctrineThrownTempest Author:Marcus Tullius Cicero