The greatest pride, or the greatest despondency, is the greatest ignorance of one's self.
Baruch SpinozaRead
Those who wish to seek out the cause of miracles and to understand the things of nature as philosophers, and not to stare at them in astonishment like fools, are soon considered heretical and impious, and proclaimed as such by those whom the mob adores as the interpreters of nature and the gods.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The pursuit of understanding natural phenomena can lead to conflict with established beliefs.
In this quote, Spinoza emphasizes the importance of inquiry and understanding in the face of the miraculous or extraordinary occurrences in nature. He suggests that those who seek to rationalize and explain these events, rather than merely accept them with blind awe, may find themselves at odds with societal norms and those in power who prefer to maintain the status quo of ignorance and mysticism.
Themes
UnderstandingNaturePhilosophyMiraclesInquiryKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
This quote would be perfect for a lecture on the philosophy of science and the nature of inquiry.
More from Baruch Spinoza
All quotes →A man is as much affected pleasurably or painfully by the image of a thing past or future as by the image of a thing present.
Baruch SpinozaRead
He who seeks to regulate everything by law is more likely to arouse vices than to reform them. It is best to grant what cannot be abolished, even though it be in itself harmful. How many evils spring from luxury, envy, avarice, drunkenness and the like, yet these are tolerated because they cannot be prevented by legal enactments.
Baruch SpinozaRead
No one doubts but that we imagine time from the very fact that we imagine other bodies to be moved slower or faster or equally fast. We are accustomed to determine duration by the aid of some measure of motion.
Baruch SpinozaRead
Fear cannot be without hope nor hope without fear. [They are the two sides of a coin, so learning how to manage fear through learning, understanding, rationality, controlled imagination, preparation, mental focus (including distraction) and a gratitude attitude is very helpful.]
Baruch SpinozaRead
He who wishes to revenge injuries by reciprocal hatred will live in misery. But he who endeavors to drive away hatred by means of love, fights with pleasure and confidence; he resists equally one or many men, and scarcely needs at all the help of fortune. Those whom he conquers yield joyfully
Baruch SpinozaRead
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