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Philosopher Quotes

Browse 2040 quotes about Philosopher.

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Philosopher Quotes

“Comedians and jazz musicians have been more comforting and enlightening to me than preachers or politicians or philosophers or poets or painters or novelists of my time. Historians in the future, in my opinion, will congratulate us on very little other than our clowning and our jazz.”

LittlesHas BeensOpinionPoetPoliticianMusicianJazzPhilosopherPainterComedianNovelistsMy TimeHistorianPreacherComfortingEnlighteningJazz MusicianClowning
Book:Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage
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“The great Sufi poet and philosopher Rumi once advised his students to write down the three things they most wanted in life. If any item on the list clashes with any other item, Rumi warned, you are destined for unhappiness. Better to live a life of single-pointed focus, he taught. But what about the benefits of living harmoniously among extremes? What if you could somehow create an expansive enough life that you could synchronize seemingly incongruous opposites into a worldview that excludes nothing?”

IfsWritingEnoughWantedThreeFocusStudentsTaughtPoetBalanceBenefitsOppositesPhilosopherExtremesListsWhat IfUnhappinessDestinedSufiItemsThree ThingsWorldviewClashMost Wanted
Book:Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything
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“I am Plato's Republic. Mr. Simmons is Marcus. I want you to meet Jonathan Swift, the author of that evil political book, Gulliver's Travels! And this other fellow is Charles Darwin, and-this one is Schopenhauer, and this one is Einstein, and this one here at my elbow is Mr. Albert Schweitzer, a very kind philosopher indeed. Here we all are, Montag. Aristophanes and Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha and Confucius and Thomas Love Peacock and Thomas Jefferson and Mr. Lincoln, if you please. We are also Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.”

IfsWantKindBookPoliticalEvilPleaseMarkFellowsPhilosopherRepublicI Want YouPlatoLukeElbowsMatthewPeacockPlato SGulliverGulliver's TravelsGautama BuddhaPlato's Republic
Author:Ray Bradbury
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“Look at them. There are your true philosophers. I think that Mack and the boys know everything that has ever happened in the world and possibly everything that will happen. I think they survive in this particular world better than other people. In a time when people tear themselves to pieces with ambition and nervousness and covetousness, they are relaxed. All of our so-called successful men are sick men, with bad stomachs, and bad souls, but Mack and the boys are healthy and curiously clean. They can do what they want. They can satisfy their appetites without calling them something else.”

PeopleThinkingKnowsMenWorldWantLooksSoulHappensCan DoBoysSuccessfulPiecesHappenedTearsParticularCallingHealthyAmbitionSickCleanPhilosopherAppetiteRelaxedCovetousnessNervousnessSuccessful ManSick ManMack
Author:John Steinbeck
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“According to most philosophers, God in making the world enslaved it. According to Christianity, in making it, He set it free. God had written, not so much a poem, but rather a play; a play he had planned as perfect, but which had necessarily been left to human actors and stage-managers, who had since made a great mess of it.”

WorldHumansMadePlayActorsLeftPerfectChristianityWrittenStagePhilosopherMessManagersStage Managers
Book:The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton
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“Anyone who can read history with both hemispheres of the brain knows that a world comes to an end every instant--the waves of time leave washed up behind themselves only dry memories of a closed & petrified past--imperfect memory, itself already dying & autumnal. And every instant also gives birth to a world--despite the cavillings of philosophers & scientists whose bodies have grown numb--a present in which all impossibilities are renewed, where regret & premonition fade to nothing in one presential hologrammatical psychomantric gesture.”

KnowsWorldGivingEndsBodyPastMemoriesBehindsBrainDyingRegretBirthScientistWavePhilosopherDespiteInstantDryImperfectGesturesFadesImpossibilityNumbHemispherePremonition
Book:T.A.Z.: The Temporary Autonomous Zone, Ontological Anarchy, Poetic Terrorism
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“As a philosopher, if I were speaking to a purely philosophic audience I should say that I ought to describe myself as an Agnostic, because I do not think that there is a conclusive argument by which one can prove that there is not a God. On the other hand, if I am to convey the right impression to the ordinary man in the street I think that I ought to say that I am an Atheist, because, when I say that I cannot prove that there is not a God, I ought to add equally that I cannot prove that there are not the Homeric gods.”

IfsThinkingMenShouldHandsAudienceAtheismStreetsOughtProveOrdinaryArgumentAddAtheistPhilosopherImpressionAgnosticAgnosticismOrdinary ManPhilosophicDescribe Myself
Book:Last Philosophical Testament: 1943-68
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“Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need to be taken seriously, and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive.”

MenNeedsShouldWritingChildrenPhilosophyCompanyTakenAlivePhilosopherChristmasOccasionsToysInspirational ChristmasChristmas DayMerry ChristmasChristmas HolidayXmasBest ChristmasMerry Christmas InspirationalShort ChristmasChristmas JoyChristmas PartyBest HolidayMerry Christmas CardsChristmas PeacePositive HolidayChildren Christmas
Author:Robert Wilson Lynd
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“Indeed, at hearing the news that 'the old god is dead', we philosophers and 'free spirits' feel illuminated by a new dawn; our heart overflows with gratitude, amazement, forebodings, expectation - finally the horizon seems clear again, even if not bright; finally our ships may set out again, set out to face any danger; every daring of the lover of knowledge is allowed again; the sea, our sea, lies open again; maybe there has never been such an 'open sea'.”

IfsFeelsHeartMaySeemsFacesSpiritLyingClearSeaDangerLoversGratitudeNewsExpectationsPhilosopherHearingShipsDawnHorizonDaringFree SpiritAmazementOverflowForebodingGod Is Dead
Book:Nietzsche: The Gay Science: With a Prelude in German Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs
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“The philosopher Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king. Said Aristippus, "If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils." Said Diogenes, "Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.”

IfsSaidKingsEatingPhilosopherBreadFlatteringSupperSubservientEating BreadLentils
Book:The Song of the Bird
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“If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen and Philosophers, we should have learned women. The world perhaps would laugh at me, and accuse me of vanity, but you I know have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard the Sentiment. If much depends as is allowed upon the early Education of youth and the first principals which are instill'd take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women.”

IfsKnowsWorldShouldMindFirstsMeanLaughingYouthDependsHeroBenefitsRootsShould HavePhilosopherAriseVanityAccomplishmentSentimentsPrincipalStatesmenDisregardInstillEarly Education
Book:The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784
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“The complexities of adult life get in the way of the truth. The great philosophers have always been able to clear away the complexities and see simple distinctions - simple once they are stated, vastly difficult before. If we are to follow them we too must be childishly simple in our questions - and maturely wise in our replies.”

IfsWayAbleDifficultSimpleClearWiseAdultsPhilosopherComplexityDistinctionGreat Philosophers
Book:How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
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“We should realize that, if [Socrates] demanded that the wisest men should rule, he clearly stressed that he did not mean the learned men; in fact, he was skeptical of all professional learnedness, whether it was that of the philosophers or of the learned men of his own generation, the Sophists. The wisdom he meant was of a different kind. It was simply the realization: how little do I know! Those who did not know this, he taught, knew nothing at all. This is the true scientific spirit.”

IfsKnowsMenShouldKindMeanLittlesDifferentFactsSpiritRealizingGenerationsTaughtPhilosopherRealizationDifferent KindsSkepticalStressedWisestWisest Man
Author:Karl Popper
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“Oh, why does compassion weaken us?' It doesn't, really...Somewhere where it all balances out-don't the philosophers have a name for it, the perfect place, the place where the answers live?-if we could go there, you could see it doesn't.It only looks, a little bit, like it does, from here, like an ant at the foot of an oak tree. He doesn't have a clue that it's a tree; it's the beginning of the wall round the world, to him.”

IfsWorldLooksLittlesDoeNamesBitsAnswersPerfectCompassionTreeFeetWallBalanceLittle BitRoundsPhilosopherClueAntsOaksOak Tree
Author:Robin McKinley
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“Life is just a series of peaks and troughs. And you don't know whether you're in a trough until you're climbing out, or on a peak until you're coming down. And that's it you know, you never know what's round the corner. But it's all good. "If you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain." Do you know which "philosopher" said that? Dolly Parton. And people say she's just a big pair of tits.”

PeopleIfsKnowsWantSaidBigsLife IsRainDown AndSeriesRoundsPhilosopherCornersPairsDo You KnowClimbingRainbowTrough
Author:Ricky Gervais
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“That he liked to think of himself as a philosopher. That he questioned all things, even the most simple, to the extent that when someone passing him on the street raised his hat and said, 'Good day,' Litvinoff often paused so long to weigh evidence that by the time he'd settled on an answer the person had gone on his way, leaving him standing alone.”

ThinkingWayPersonsLongSaidSimpleAnswersGoneStreetsEvidenceStandingAll ThingsRaisedLeavingPhilosopherPassingPassingsHatsGood DayStanding AloneLeaving Him
Author:Nicole Krauss
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“You are the patient one, Mademoiselle,' said Poirot to Miss Debenham. She shrugged her shoulders slightly. 'What else can one do?' You are a philosopher, Mademoiselle.' That implies a detached attitude. I think my attitude is more selfish. I have learned to save myself useless emotion.”

ThinkingSaidEmotionAttitudeMissingPatientPhilosopherSelfishShouldersUselessI Have LearnedDetachedMy Attitude
Book:Five complete Hercule Poirot novels
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“What do they know-all these scholars, all these philosophers, all the leaders of the world - about such as you? They have convinced themselves that man, the worst transgressor of all the species, is the crown of creation. All other creatures were created merely to provide him with food, pelts, to be tormented, exterminated. In relation to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals it is an eternal Treblinka.”

PeopleKnowsMenWorldAnimalLeaderWorstCreationCreaturesEternalRelationSpeciesPhilosopherConvincedAnimal RightsScholarCrownsNaziTreblinka
Author:Isaac Bashevis Singer
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“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.”

DesireHopeGratitudePhilosopherAppreciationContentmentBe GratefulBeing HappyThankfulBeing ThankfulSpoilHaving HopeThankful GratitudeGratitude And AppreciationI Am GratefulThanksgiving And GratitudeGreek PhilosopherThanksgiving ThanksThanksgiving GratitudeThank You GratitudeGratitude And ThanksLove And GratitudeBurning DesireInspirational GratitudeThankful For YouThankful ThanksgivingThanksgiving ThankfulGratitude For HelpWords Of GratitudeLove GratitudeThank You AppreciationGrateful For YouThanksgiving Thank YouGrateful ThankfulSpoiltHappy And GratefulEpicureanismHope LoveThankful For BlessingsGrateful For What You HaveAncient Greek PhilosophersThankful For What You HaveGrateful To Be Alive
Book:Letters: Principles Doctrines, and Vatican Sayings Translated, with an Introd. and Notes, by Russel M. Geor. Indianapolis Merrill
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“I see the beauty of Mike's attempt to devise an ideal ethic and applaud his recognition that such must start by junking the present sexual code and starting fresh. Most philosophers haven't the courage for this; they swallow the basics of the present code--monogamy, family pattern, continence, body taboos, conventional restrictions on intercourse, and so forth--then fiddle with details...even such piffle as discussing whether the female breast is an obscene sight! (p.365)”

BodyHavensEthicsFemaleIdealsSightStartingPatternsPhilosopherDetailsRecognitionCodeBreastsConventionalMikeRestrictionTabooIntercourseDiscussingBasicsObsceneFresh StartMonogamyFiddle
Book:Stranger in a Strange Land
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“Philosophers have often held dispute As to the seat of thought in man and brute For that the power of thought attends the latter My friend, thy beau, hath made a settled matter, And spite of dogmas current in all ages, One settled fact is better than ten sages. (O,Tempora! O,Mores!)”

MenMadeMatterFactsAgeTenMy FriendsPhilosopherCurrentsSeatsSpiteLatterDogmaSageDisputesBrutesPower Of Thought
Book:Edgar Allan Poe Annotated and Illustrated Entire Stories and Poems
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“Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus: 'You bear God within you, poor wretch, and know it not.”

KnowsRealizingLinesPoorBearsDespairNotionPhilosopherGreekWithin YouStoicYogi
Book:The Complete Elizabeth Gilbert: Eat, Pray, Love; Committed; The Last American Man; Stern Men & Pilgrims
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“Now look at me! Take a good look! I was born and I knew I was alive and I knew what I wanted. What do you think is alive in me? Why do you think I'm alive? Because I have a stomach and eat and digest the food? Because I breathe and work and produce more food to digest? Or because I know what I want, and that something which knows how to want—isn't that life itself? And who—in this damned universe—who can tell me why I should live for anything but for that which I want?”

ThinkingKnowsWantLifeShouldLooksPhilosophyWantedUniverseBornWorkKnow HowKnowingAliveProducePhilosopherBreatheStomachLook At MeLooking GoodDeep ThoughtObjectivismI'm Alive
Book:For the New Intellectual: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (50th Anniversary Edition)
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“here was the secret of happiness, about which philosophers had disputed for so many ages, at once discovered; happiness might now be bought for a penny, and carried in the waistcoat-pocket; portable ecstasies might be had corked up in a pint-bottle; and peace of mind could be sent down by the mail.”

MindMightAgeSecretPhilosopherPocketsPeace Of MindBottlesEcstasyMailPenniesPints
Book:Delphi Complete Works of Thomas De Quincey (Illustrated)
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