Philosophy Quote by Iain Pears — Inspiring Words on Life, Love & Wisdom

“Virtue comes through contemplation of the divine, and the exercise of philosophy. But it also comes through public service. The one is incomplete without the other. Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.”

“Considering he was neither priest nor scholar, the young man gave sensible, thoughtful replies -- the more so, perhaps, for being untrained, for he had not learned what he should believe or should not believe. Present a statement to him in flagrant contradiction to all Christian doctrine and he could be persuaded to agree on its good sense, unless he remembered it was the sort of thing of which pyres are made for the incautious.”

“Manlius ... took care in his invitations, actively sought to exclude from his circle crude and vulgar men like Caius Valerius. But they were all around; it was Manlius who lived in a dream world, and his bubble of civility was becoming smaller and smaller. Caius Valerius, powerful member of a powerful family, had never even heard of Plato. A hundred, even fifty years before, such an absurdity would have been inconceivable. Now it was surprising if such a man did know anything of philosophy, and even if it was explained, he would not wish to understand.”

“Olivier took a deep breath, then turned and bowed in farewell. Gersonides nodded in return, then thought of something.”

“Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it sees the irrationality of others, it must seek to correct it, and can do this either by teaching or engaging in public affairs itself, correcting through its practice. And the purpose of action is to enable philosophy to continue, for if men are reduced to the material alone, they become no more than beasts.”

“If time is precious, no book that will not improve by repeated readings deserves to be read at all.”

“Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”

“Time cannot put anything in your hands until you let go off the time.”

“Don’t you know it is your joy that makes the universe joyful?”

“The river and its waves are one surf: where is the difference between the river and its waves?”

“किसी अलौकिक परम सत्ता के अस्तित्व और उसमें आस्था मनुष्य के मन में गहरे धँसी होती है। यह सही है। इस परम सत्ता को, मनुष्य अपनी आखिरी अदालत मानता है। इस परम सत्ता में मनुष्य दया और मंगल की अपेक्षा करता है। फिर इस सत्ता के रूप बनते हैं, प्रार्थनाएँ बनती हैं। आराधना-विधि बनती है। पुरोहित वर्ग प्रकट होता है।कर्मकाण्ड बनते हैं। सम्प्रदाय बनते हैं। आपस में शत्रु भाव पैदा होता है, झगड़े होते हैं। दंगे होते हैं।”