What a man believes upon grossly insufficient evidence is an index into his desires -- desires of which he himself is often unconscious. If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.
Science may set limits to knowledge, but should not set limits to imagination.
Nothing is so exhausting as indecision, and nothing is so futile.
When the journey from means to end is not too long, the means themselves are enjoyed if the end is ardently desired.
The degree of one's emotions varies inversely with one's knowledge of the facts.
Nine-tenths of the appeal of pornography is due to the indecent feelings concerning sex which moralists inculcate in the young the other tenth is physiological, and will occur in one way or another whatever the state of the law may be.
Bad philosophers may have a certain influence good philosophers, never.
The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.
The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy I mean that if you are happy you will be good.
Folly is perennial, yet the human race has survived.
Even when the experts all agree, they may well be mistaken.
Organic life, we are told, has developed gradually from the protozoon to the philosopher, and this development, we are assured, is indubitably an advance. Unfortunately it is the philosopher, not the protozoon, who gives us this assurance.
All human activity is prompted by desire.
What men want is not knowledge, but certainty.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.
The most savage controversies are about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way.
The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history.
The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
Machines are worshipped because they are beautiful and valued because they confer power they are hated because they are hideous and loathed because they impose slavery.
Liberty is the right to do what I like license, the right to do what you like.
I say quite deliberately that the Christian religion, as organized in its Churches, has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world.
I do not pretend to start with precise questions. I do not think you can start with anything precise. You have to achieve such precision as you can, as you go along.
Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.
Awareness of universals is called conceiving, and a universal of which we are aware is called a concept.
Anything you're good at contributes to happiness.
Picture Quotes to Inspire and Delight