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Quotes about philosophy

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Consciousness is the one thing in this universe that cannot be an illusion.
Sam Harrisborn 1967Waking Up (2014), p. 54
The self really is an illusion⁠—and realizing this is the basis of spiritual life.
Sam Harrisborn 1967Interview with The Minimalists (19 August 2014)
A nihilist is not one who believes in nothing, but one who does not believe in what exists.
Albert Camus1913–1960The Rebel (1951), Part 2: Metaphysical Rebellion
Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of our language.
Ludwig Wittgenstein1889–1951Philosophical Investigations (1953), § 109
Is there any knowledge in the world which is so certain that no reasonable man could doubt it?
Bertrand Russell1872–1970The Problems of Philosophy (1912)
- Knowledge
A philosopher who is not taking part in discussions is like a boxer who never goes into the ring.
Ludwig Wittgenstein1889–1951Conversation of 1930
- Debate
Theology is now little more than a branch of human ignorance. Indeed, it is ignorance with wings.
Sam Harrisborn 1967The End of Faith (2004)
- Anti-Religion
- Theology
I teach you the Superman. Man is something that is to be surpassed. What have ye done to surpass man?
Friedrich Nietzsche1844–1900Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883), Prologue, § 3, tr. Thomas CommonIn context
- Motivation & Goals
When people begin to philosophize they seem to think it necessary to make themselves artificially stupid.
Bertrand Russell1872–1970Theory of Knowledge (1913)
The Stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
Jonathan Swift1667–1745Thoughts on Various Subjects from Miscellanies (1711-1726)
The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers.
Erich Fromm1900–1980Man for Himself (1947), Ch. 3
Profound skepticism is favorable to conventions, because it doubts that the criticism of conventions is any truer than they are.
George Santayana1863–1952Soliloquies in England and Later Soliloquies (1922)
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscrib’d
In one self place; but where we are is hell,
And where hell is, there must we ever be.
Christopher Marlowe1564–1593Doctor Faustus (c. 1603), Act II, scene i, line 118In context
- Theology
It is as absurd to expect members of philosophy departments to be philosophers as it is to expect members of art departments to be artists.
Leo Strauss1899–1973“What Is Liberal Education?”, in Liberalism Ancient and Modern (1968), p. 7
- Clever Jabs
It is perfectly true, as the philosophers say, that life must be understood backwards. But they forget the other proposition, that it must be lived forwards.
Søren Kierkegaard1813–1855Journals IV A 164 (1843)
- Life & Death