Baruch Spinoza

A miracle signifies nothing more than an event... the cause of which cannot be explained by another familiar instance, or.... which the narrator is unable to explain.

Academies that are founded at public expense are instituted not so much to cultivate men's natural abilities as to restrain them.

Love is nothing but joy accompanied with the idea of an eternal cause.

Surely human affairs would be far happier if the power in men to be silent were the same as that to speak.

What Paul says about Peter tells us more about Paul than about Peter.

In so far as men are influenced by envy or any kind of hatred, one towards another, they are at variance, and are therefore to be feared in proportion, as they are more powerful than their fellows._x000D_ _x000D_ Yet minds are not conquered by force, but by love and high-mindedness.

He who lives according to the guidance of reason strives as much as possible to repay the hatred, anger, or contempt of others towards himself with love or generosity. ...hatred is increased by reciprocal hatred, and, on the other hand, can be extinguished by love, so that hatred passes into love.

He who hates anyone will endeavor to do him an injury, unless he fears that a greater injury will thereby accrue to himself; on the other hand, he who loves anyone will, by the same law, seek to benefit him.

Simply from the fact that we have regarded a thing with the emotion of pleasure or pain, though that thing be not the efficient cause of the emotion, we can either love or hate it.

Hatred is increased by being reciprocated, and can on the other hand be destroyed by love.

Minds are not conquered by force, but by love and high-mindedness.

Hatred which is completely vanquished by love passes into love: and love is thereupon greater than if hatred had not preceded it.

Fear cannot be without hope nor hope without fear.

the ultimate aim of government is not to rule, or restrain by fear, nor to exact obedience, but to free every man from fear that he may live in all possible security... In fact the true aim of government is liberty.

Those who know the true use of money, and regulate the measure of wealth according to their needs, live contented with few things.