Less glory is more liberty. When the drum is silent, reason sometimes speaks.
Albert PikeRead
Doubt, the essential preliminary of all improvement and discovery, must accompany the stages of man's onward progress. The faculty of doubting and questioning, without which those of comparison and judgment would be useless, is itself a divine prerogative of the reason.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Doubt is a necessary step for growth and understanding, enabling improvement and discovery.
This quote emphasizes the fundamental role of doubt in human progress. Albert Pike suggests that questioning and doubting are vital processes for advancement, as they foster critical thinking and judgment, which are crucial for innovation and personal growth. Without embracing doubt, one would struggle to assess and improve upon existing knowledge and beliefs.
Themes
DoubtDiscoveryProgressImprovementReason
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speaker might use this quote to encourage people to embrace uncertainty as part of their journey to success.
More from Albert Pike
All quotes →He who endeavors to serve, to benefit, and improve the world, is like a swimmer, who struggles against a rapid current, in a river lashed into angry waves by the winds. Often they roar over his head, often they beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to the stress of the current... Only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms struggle on toward ultimate success.
Albert PikeRead
Let us drink together, fellows, as we did in days of yore. And still enjoy the golden hours that Fortune has in store; The absent friends remembered be, in all that’s sung or said, And Love immortal consecrate the memory of the dead.
Albert PikeRead
War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory.
Albert PikeRead
Two forms of government are favorable to the prevalence of falsehood and deceit. Under a Despotism, men are false, treacherous, and deceitful through fear, like slaves dreading the lash. Under a Democracy they are so as a means of attaining popularity and office, and because of the greed for wealth.
Albert PikeRead
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Albert PikeRead
Similar quotes
We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention.
Gordon B. HinckleyRead
Habits are funny things. What's funny, or rather tragic, is that bad habits are so predictable and avoidable. Despite this, there are people by the millions who insist on acquiring habits that are bad, expensive, and create problems. The habit they weren't going to get, got them!
Zig ZiglarRead
The scar will remain, but it is better for a man to lose both arms than his soul; and these hard years, instead of being lost, may be made the most precious of your lives, if they teach you to rule yourselves.
Louisa May AlcottRead
Throughout my life, I always remember that consideration of people who were less fortunate than we. We lived in an atmosphere of awareness, and we certainly did not live a life whereby we ignored, or felt that we could ignore, that which was in evidence around us.
Richard AttenboroughRead
Work kills no one, but worry has killed multitudes… Worry not only saps vitality and wastes energy, but it also seriously affects the quality of one's work. It cuts down ability. A man cannot get the highest quality of efficiency into his work when his mind is troubled. The mental faculties must have perfect freedom before they will give out their best. A troubled brain cannot think clearly, vigorously, and logically.
Orison S. MardenRead
Perfect wisdom, Perfect tranquility,Perfect compassion,arise fromOur love,Our sincerity.Our understanding.
Gautama BuddhaRead