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Philosophy Quotes

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Philosophy Quotes

“While the dogmatist is harmful, the sceptic is useless ...; one is certain of knowing, the other of not knowing. What philosophy should dissipate is certainty, whether of knowledge or of ignorance. Knowledge is not so precise a concept as is commonly thought. Instead of saying 'I know this', we ought to say 'I more or less know something more or less like this'. ... Knowledge in practical affairs has not the certainty or the precision of arithmetic.”

Knows Should Philosophy Science Certain Knowledge Knowing Ignorance Ought Concepts Affair Practicals Certainty Useless Not Knowing Precise Precision Arithmetic Sceptic

Author:Bertrand Russell

“If somebody can create an absolute system of beliefs and rules of conduct that will guide a business man at eleven o'clock in the morning, a boy trying to select a career, a woman in an unhappy love affair--well then, surely no pragmatist will object. He insists only that philosophy shall come down to earth and be tried out there.”

Source: Drift and Mastery: An Attempt to Diagnose the Current Unrest

“Nothing ought to be said or done which could create the impression that unbiased reconsideration of the most elementary premises of philosophy is a merely academic or historical affair.”

Said Done Philosophy Ought Historical Affair Impression Academic Premises Unbiased Reconsideration

Book:Natural Right and History

Source: Natural Right and History

“Every business is manmade. It is a result of individuals. It reflects the personalities and the business philosophy of the founders and those who have directed its affairs throughout its existence. If you want to have an understanding of any business, it is important to know the background of the people who started it and directed its past and the hopes and ambitions of those who are planning its future.”

People Ifs Knows Want Important Philosophy Past Individual Understanding Results Existence Personality Ambition Affair Planning Backgrounds Founders

Author:Thomas Rowe Price, Jr.

“In youth it is the outward aspect of things that most engages us; while in age, thought or reflection is the predominating qualityof the mind. Hence, youth is the time for poetry, and age is more inclined to philosophy. In practical affairs it is the same: a man shapes his resolutions in youth more by the impression that the outward world makes upon him; whereas, when he is old, it is thought that determines his actions.”

Men World Mind Philosophy Age Action Youth Shapes Reflection Aspect Affair Determine Practicals Impression Resolution

Book:Counsels and Maxims: Top of Schopenhauer

Source: Counsels and Maxims: Top of Schopenhauer

“Men who neglect philosophy while busying themselves with ordinary affairs are like the Suitors [in the Odyssey] who desired Penelope but went to bed with her maids.”

Men Philosophy Bed Ordinary Affair Neglect Maids Odyssey Suitors

Author:Gorgias

“Civil Engineering is the art of directing the great sources of Power in Nature for the use and convenience of man; being that practical application of the most important principles of natural Philosophy which has in a considerable degree realized the anticipations of Bacon, and changed the aspect and state of affairs in the whole world. The most important object of Civil Engineering is to improve the means of production and of traffic in states, both for external and internal Trade.”