"Every thing is what it is, and not another thing."
Read quote
4 likes
Quote collection
Joseph Butler quotes (page 2 of 2)
39 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Every one of our passions and affections hath its natural stint and bound, which may easily be exceeded; whereas our enjoyments can possibly be but in a determinate measure and degree."
Read quote
3 likes
"Thus self-love as one part of human nature, and the several particular principles as the other part, are, themselves, their objects and ends, stated and shown."
Read quote
3 likes
"In all common ordinary cases, we see intuitively at first view what is out duty, what is the honest part. This is the ground of the observation, that the first thought is often the best. In these cases, doubt and deliberation is itself dishonesty; as it was in Balaam upon the second message."
Read quote
3 likes
"The Epistles in the New Testament have all of them a particular reference to the condition and usages of the Christian world at the time they were written."
Read quote
3 likes
"Self-love then does not constitute THIS or THAT to be our interest or good; but, our interest or good being constituted by nature and supposed, self-love only puts us upon obtaining and securing it."
Read quote
3 likes
"The private interest of the individual would not be sufficiently provided for by reasonable and cool self-love alone; therefore the appetites and passions are placed within as a guard and further security, without which it would not be taken due care of."
Read quote
3 likes
"The only distinct meaning of the word "natural" is stated, fixed, or settled; since what is natural as much requires and presupposes an intelligent agent to render it so, i.e. to effect it continually or at stated times, as what is supernatural or miraculous does to effect it for once."
Read quote
3 likes
"Remember likewise there are persons who love fewer words, an inoffensive sort of people, and who deserve some regard, though of too still and composed tempers for you."
Read quote
3 likes
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
Read quote
3 likes
"Man may act according to that principle or inclination which for the present happens to be strongest, and yet act in a way disproportionate to, and violate his real proper nature."
Read quote
3 likes
"There is a much more exact correspondence between the natural and moral world than we are apt to take notice of."
Read quote
3 likes
"The principle we call self-love never seeks anything external for the sake of the thing, but only as a means of happiness or good: particular affections rest in the external things themselves."
Read quote
3 likes
"That which is the foundation of all our hopes and of all our fears; all our hopes and fears which are of any consideration; I mean a Future Life."
Read quote
3 likes
"Thus there is no doubt the eye was intended for us to see with."
Read quote
3 likes
"Virtue is not to be considered in the light of mere innocence, or abstaining from harm; but as the exertion of our faculties in doing good."
Read quote
3 likes
"The first thought is often the best."
Read quote
3 likes
"The love of liberty that is not a real principle of dutiful behavior to authority is as hypocritical as the religion that is not productive of a good life."
Read quote
3 likes
"The satisfaction that accompanies good acts is itself not the motivation of the act; satisfaction is not the motive, but only the consequence."
Read quote
3 likes