Quotes on Philosophy

Philosophy means the complete liberty of the mind, and therefore independence of all social, political or religious prejudice... It loves one thing only... truth.

Rightly defined philosophy is simply the love of wisdom.

I think that consciousness has always been the most important topic in the philosophy of mind, and one of the most important topics in cognitive science as a whole, but it had been surprisingly neglected in recent years.

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

General principles are not the less true or important because from their nature they elude immediate observation; they are like the air, which is not the less necessary because we neither see nor feel it.

Wonder is the foundation of all philosophy, inquiry the progress, ignorance the end.

Saints cannot arise where there have been no warriors, nor philosophers where a prying beast does not remain hidden in the depths.

It has been said that metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct.

Philosophers are as jealous as women; each wants a monopoly of praise.

In a philosophical dispute, he gains most who is defeated, since he learns most.

Pretend what we may, the whole man within us is at work when we form our philosophical opinions.

Posterity for the philosopher is what the other world is for the religious man.

Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt.

I speak about universal evolution and teleological evolution, because I think the process of evolution reflects the wisdom of nature. I see the need for wisdom to become operative. We need to try to put all of these things together in what I call an evolutionary philosophy of our time.

An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.

That which is false troubles the heart, but truth brings joyous tranquility.

Predominant opinions are generally the opinions of the generation that is vanishing.

I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that tied them together.

Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt.

The philosophy of protectionism is a philosophy of war.

Psychology teaches us at every step that though two types of activity can have the same external manifestation, whether in origin or essence, their nature may differ most profoundly.