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Principles Quotes

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Principles Quotes

“The task of the political philosopher can only be to influence public opinion, not to organize people for action. He will do so effectively only if he is not concerned with what is now politically possible but consistently defends the "general principles which are always the same." In this sense I doubt whether there can be such a thing as a conservative political philosophy. Conservatism may often be a useful practical maxim, but it does not give us any guiding principles which can influence long-range developments.”

“The philosopher forms his principles on an infinity of particular observations. He does not confuse truth with plausibility, he takes for truth what is true, for false what is false, for doubtful what is doubtful, and probable what is probable. The philosophical spirit is thus a spirit of observation and accuracy.”

Doe Form Spirit Principles Particular Philosophical Philosopher Observation Infinity Objectivity Accuracy Doubtful

Author:Denis Diderot

“Ninety percent of [contemporary philosophers] see their principle task as that of beating religion out of men's heads. ... We are far from being able to provide scientific basis for the theological world view.”

Men World Able Views Principles Percent Tasks Bases Philosopher Contemporary Ninety Theological World View

Author:Kurt Gödel

“The men who are not interested in philosophy need it most urgently: they are most helplessly in its power. The men who are not interested in philosophy absorb its principles from the cultural atmosphere around them-from schools, colleges, books, magazines, newspapers, movies, television, etc. Who sets the tone of a culture? A small handful of men: the philosophers. Others follow their lead, either by conviction or by default.”

Source: The Ayn Rand Lexicon: Objectivism from A to Z

“It is certain that the soul is either mortal or immortal. The decision of this question must make a total difference in the principles of morals. Yet philosophers have arranged their moral system entirely independent of this. What an extraordinary blindness!”

Soul Certain Differences Decision Moral Principles Independent Extraordinary Philosopher Mortals Immortal Blindness

Book:Thoughts on Religion and Other Subjects

Source: Thoughts on Religion and Other Subjects

“What a mathematical proof actually does is show that certain conclusions, such as the irrationality of , follow from certain premises, such as the principle of mathematical induction. The validity of these premises is an entirely independent matter which can safely be left to philosophers.”

Doe Matter Shows Certain Left Principles Independent Philosopher Proof Conclusion Mathematical Premises Validity Irrationality Mathematical Proof

Book:Mathematics

Source: Mathematics

“Since at least the Middle Ages, philosophers and philologists have dreamed of curing natural languages of their flaws by constructing entirely new idioms according to orderly, logical principles.”

Age Language Natural Principles Middle Philosopher Logical Flaws Middle Ages Orderly Idiom

Author:Joshua Foer

“The love of truth, virtue, and the happiness of mankind are specious pretexts, but not the inward principles that set divines at work; else why should they affect to abuse human reason, to disparage natural religion, to traduce the philosophers as they universally do?”

Should Humans Reason Truth Natural Principles Virtue Mankind Divine Abuse Philosopher Inward Pretext Human Reason

Book:Philosophical works

Source: Philosophical works

“If we do discover a complete theory, it should be in time understandable in broad principle by everyone. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people be able to take part in the discussion of why we and the universe exist.”

People Ifs Should Able Universe Principles Theory Ordinary Scientist Philosopher Discussion Broads Ordinary People Understanding The Universe

Book:A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes

Source: A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes

“If what charms you is nothing but abstract principles, sit down and turn them over quietly in your mind: but never dub yourself a Philosopher.”

Ifs Mind Turns Principles Down And Philosopher Abstract Charm

Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion

Source: Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion

“Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow that the form of government which communicates ease, comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest numbers of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best. All sober inquirers after truth, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity, consists in virtue.”

Source: The Works of John Adams: Controversial papers of the Revolution (continued) Works on government