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Quotes about thinking

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But the greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor. This alone cannot be imparted by another; it is the mark of genius, for to make good metaphors implies an eye for resemblances.
Aristotle384–322 BCPoetics, 1459a.4
- Genius
- Writing
Others abide our question. Thou art free.
We ask and ask — Thou smilest and art still,
Out-topping knowledge.
Matthew Arnold1822–1888The Strayed Reveller, and Other Poems (1849), “Shakespeare”, l. 1
- Genius
- Poetry
Burke is so great because, almost alone in England, he brings thought to bear upon politics, he saturates politics with thought.
Matthew Arnold1822–1888The Functions of Criticism at the Present Time (1864)
- Politics
The free-thinking of one age is the common sense of the next.
Matthew Arnold1822–1888God and the Bible (1875)
- Change
There is in every madman a misunderstood genius whose idea, shining in his head, frightened people, and for whom delirium was the only solution to the strangulation that life had prepared for him.
Antonin Artaud1896–1948Van Gogh, the Man Suicided by Society (1947)
- Genius
Once you get it into your head that somebody is controlling events, you can interpret everything in that light and find no reasonable certainty anywhere.
Isaac Asimov1920–1992Foundation’s Edge (1982), Chapter 12 “Agent” section 4, p. 226
You can prove anything you want by coldly logical reason⁠—if you pick the proper postulates.
Isaac Asimov1920–1992I, Robot (1950), “Reason”, p. 63
To us he is no more a person
Now but a whole climate of opinion.
W. H. Auden1907–1973“In Memory of Sigmund Freud”, Another Time (1940)
- Ideas
The basic stimulus to the intelligence is doubt, a feeling that the meaning of an experience is not self-evident.
W. H. Auden1907–1973Forewords and Afterwords (1973), “The Protestant Mystics”
- Intelligence
Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life.
Marcus Aurelius121–180III, 11
- Knowledge
Acquire the contemplative way of seeing how all things change into one another.
Marcus Aurelius121–180Meditations, Book X, 11
- Change
Let opinion be taken away, and no man will think himself wronged. If no man shall think himself wronged, then is there no more any such thing as wrong.
Marcus Aurelius121–180Meditations (c. 170–180), The Fourth BookIn context
- Justice
If therefore it be a thing external that causes thy grief, know, that it is not that properly that doth cause it, but thine own conceit and opinion concerning the thing: which thou mayest rid thyself of, when thou wilt.
Marcus Aurelius121–180Meditations (c. 170–180), The Eighth BookIn context
- Emotion
- Philosophy
I have often wondered how it should come to pass, that every man loving himself best, should more regard other men’s opinions concerning himself than his own.
Marcus Aurelius121–180Meditations (c. 170–180), The Twelfth BookIn context
- Character
Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief.
Jane Austen1775–1817Emma (1815), Volume I, Chapter VIIIIn context
- Intelligence
- Pride