Quotes by Philosophers

A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this World: he that has these two, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, will be little the better for anything else. John Locke

Things of this world are in so constant a flux, that nothing remains long in the same state. John Locke

Change World Long Nothing State Flux Constant Remains Same Things

For the bureaucrat, the world is a mere object to be manipulated by him. Karl Marx

World Object Mere Him Bureaucrat Manipulated

Without doubt, machinery has greatly increased the number of well-to-do idlers. Karl Marx

Doubt Increased Machinery Without Idlers Well-To-Do Greatly Number

The world is the totality of facts, not of things. Ludwig Wittgenstein

World Totality Facts Things

It is self-evident that no number of men, by conspiring, and calling themselves a government, can acquire any rights whatever over other men, or other men's property, which they had not before, as individuals. Lysander Spooner

Government Property Rights Men Before Whatever Other Conspiring Had Individuals Over Self-Evident Calling Any Which Acquire Themselves Number

Vices are simply the errors which a man makes in his search after his own happiness. Unlike crimes, they imply no malice toward others, and no interference with their persons or property. Lysander Spooner

Consequently he who wishes to attain to human perfection, must therefore first study Logic, next the various branches of Mathematics in their proper order, then Physics, and lastly Metaphysics. Maimonides

Now, we occupy a lowly position, both in space and rank in comparison with the heavenly sphere, and the Almighty is Most High not in space, but with respect to absolute existence, greatness and power. Maimonides

Respect Space Power Sphere Rank High Both Absolute Almighty Most Occupy Existence Greatness Heavenly Lowly Comparison Now Position

True time is four-dimensional. Martin Heidegger

Time True

I quote others only in order the better to express myself. Michel de Montaigne

Myself Better Others Only Order Quote Express

If you don't know how to die, don't worry; Nature will tell you what to do on the spot, fully and adequately. She will do this job perfectly for you; don't bother your head about it. Michel de Montaigne

Death Nature You Will Job Worry Adequately Tell About Bother Head Perfectly Know She Spot How Die Your Fully

It is not death, it is dying that alarms me. Michel de Montaigne

Death Me Dying Alarm

It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others. Michel de Montaigne

Good Intelligence Others Our Polish Brain Against Rub

I know well what I am fleeing from but not what I am in search of. Michel de Montaigne

Know Well Am Fleeing Search

An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war. Montesquieu

War Maintain Empire Itself Founded

The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth. Peter Abelard

Wisdom Truth Key Doubting Constant Frequent Arrive Led Question Questioning

We spend our lives, all of us, waiting for the great day, the great battle, or the deed of power. But that external consummation is not given to many: nor is it necessary. So long as our being is tensed, directed with passion, towards that which is the spirit of all things, then that spirit will emerge from our own hidden, nameless effort. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Day Great Waiting Battle Passion Will Long Power Own Our Spend Great Day Our Lives Hidden All Things Spirit Emerge Directed Given Towards Nor Effort Being Which Then Us Deed Many Lives Things Necessary External

The more nobly a man wills and acts, the more avid he becomes for great and sublime aims to pursue. He will no longer be content with family, country, and the remunerative aspect of his work. He will want wider organisations to create, new paths to blaze, causes to uphold, truths to discover, an ideal to cherish and defend. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Work Great Family Man Will Country Aims Wills More Pursue He Blaze Ideal Nobly Longer New Content Becomes Cherish Causes Discover His Sublime Truths Uphold Paths Want Create Organisations Aspect Avid Acts Wider Defend