Philosophy quotes
5.3K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
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Browse quotes that often appear alongside philosophy — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
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"I have concluded the evident existence of God, and that my existence depends entirely on God in all the moments of my life, that I do not think that the human spirit may know anything with greater evidence and certitude."
"...the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise. This philosophy fitted on to my early adult life, when I saw the improbable, the implausible, often the "impossible," come true."
"The Divine Truth is greater than any religion or creed or scripture or idea or philosophy."
"An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise."
"Nothing is more surprising than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few."
"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
"Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion."
"Words, without power, is mere philosophy."
"The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them."
"Cut throats, gun smoke, dope, and hoes, is what controls niggas souls."
"Fortunately, some are born with spiritual immune systems that sooner or later give rejection to the illusory worldview grafted upon then from birth through social conditioning. They begin sensing that something is amiss, and start looking for answers. Inner knowledge and anomalous outer experiences show them a side of reality others are oblivious to, and so begins the journey of awakening. Each step of the journey is made by following the heart instead of the crowd, and by choosing knowledge over veils of ignorance."
"Waves of hands, hesitations at street corners, someone dropping a cigarette into the gutter-all are stories. But which is the true story? That I do not know. Hence I keep my phrases hung like clothes in a cupboard, waiting for some one to wear them. Thus waiting, thus speculating, making this note and then an· other I do not cling to life. I shall be brushed like a bee from a sunflower. My philosophy, always accumulating, welling up moment by moment, runs like quicksilver a dozen ways at once."
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."
"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."
"My idea of philosophy is that if it is not relevant to human problems, if it does not tell us how we can go about eradicating some of the misery in this world, then it is not worth the name of philosophy. I think Socrates made a very profound statement when he asserted that the raison d'etre of philosophy is to teach us proper living. In this day and age 'proper living' means liberation from the urgent problems of poverty, economic necessity and indoctrination, mental oppression."
"You will attract to yourself people who harmonize with your own philosophy of life, whether you wish it or not."
"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities."
"When truth has no burning, then it is philosophy, when it gets burning from the heart, it becomes poetry."
"Practice the philosophy of continuous improvement. Get a little bit better every single day."
