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Favourite Quotes Thread

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Lucretius
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Favourite Quotes Thread

#1 Post by Lucretius » October 7th, 2009, 9:56 pm

Not sure if this has been done and I couldn't find any thread like it. Anyway I'll start us of with some.

"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago (1973)

"It is not what the man of science believes that distinguishes him, but how and why he believes it. His beliefs are tentative, not dogmatic; they are based on evidence, not on authority or intuition."
-Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest" - Denis Diderot, French Philosopher, author and encyclopedist (1713-1784)

"The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation, and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be believed only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance, called faith."
- Robert Ingersoll

"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible."
-Bertrand Russell, Marriage and Morals (1929) ch. 5

"We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free"
- EPICTETUS, Roman philosopher and former slave, Discourses

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.
-CHARLES DARWIN, Introduction, The Descent of Man (1871)

I am interested in many scientific and philosophical areas of thought. "It is not what the man of science believes that distinguishes him, but how and why he believes it. His beliefs are tentative, not dogmatic; they are based on evidence, not on authority or intuition." -Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) "We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free" - EPICTETUS, Roman philosopher and former slave, Discourses Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science. -CHARLES DARWIN, Introduction, The Descent of Man (1871)

"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." - H.L. Mencken.

"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."
- George Orwell

"The American dream. You have to be asleep to believe it." - George Carlin

"Martyrs, my friend, have to choose between being forgotten, mocked or used. As for being understood - never." Albert Camus

"Imagination abandoned by reason produces impossible monsters: united with her, she is the mother of the arts and the source of her wonders."
-Goya

"Why does everyone take for granted that we don't learn to grow arms, but rather, are designed to grow arms? Similarly, we should conclude that in the case of the development of moral systems, there's a biological endowment which in effect requires us to develop a system of moral judgement and a theory of justice, if you like, that in fact has detailed applicability over an enormous range."
- Noam Chomsky

"Think of it: zillions and zillions of organisms running around, each under the hypnotic spell of a single truth, all these truths identical, and all logically incompatible with one another: 'My hereditary material is the most important material on earth; its survival justifies your frustration, pain, even death'. And you are one of these organisms, living your life in the thrall of logical absurdity."
- Robert Wright, The Moral Animal
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." - H.L. Mencken

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Alan H
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#2 Post by Alan H » October 8th, 2009, 12:25 am

We of course have six pages of Humanist quotes on the main website, although I'm not sure we have many of yours!
Alan Henness

There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:

1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?

Lucretius
Posts: 262
Joined: July 26th, 2007, 11:19 pm

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#3 Post by Lucretius » October 8th, 2009, 1:39 am

I wouldn't say they are all humanist quotes but they are all quotes that stuck with me.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." - H.L. Mencken

RachelAnn
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Joined: October 5th, 2009, 2:43 pm

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#4 Post by RachelAnn » October 8th, 2009, 2:02 am

Attributed to Feuerbach among others..."Man created God in his own image."
"It is the wounded oyster that mends its shell with pearl." Ralph Waldo Emerson

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SoldierForTruth
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#5 Post by SoldierForTruth » October 9th, 2009, 5:15 pm

I love quotes! I collect them! Typically, I share one a day on my Facebook page. I guess I can share some here as well. :D

"When we no longer cling to our knowing, but simply open to the truth of each moment as it is, life goes byond heaven and hell, beyond the mind's constant angling for satisfaction."
-Stephen Levine

"Government and Americans are all geographically illiterate and economically ignorant. It's true. How many times have you said to yourself: 'Where did all my money go?'"
-Alan Prophet

"Love is blind and marriage is a real eye-opener!"
-Anonymous

"Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy."
-Benjamin Franklin

"The Republican form of Government is the highest form of government; but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature--a type nowhere at present existing."
-Herbert Spencer

"Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us worthy evidence of that fact."
-George Eliot

"Justice is the only worship.
Love is the only priest.
Ignorance is the only slavery.
Happiness is the only good.
The time to be happy is now,
The place to be happy is here,
The way to be happy is to make others so.
Wisdom is the science of happiness."

-Robert G. Ingersoll's "Humanist Credo"
"Loyalty to tradition is not enough. You've got to keep asking yourself: What if I'm wrong?"
-Daniel C. Dennett

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getreal
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#6 Post by getreal » October 9th, 2009, 5:20 pm

The only quote I can ever remember is
"better to say nothing and have people think you a fool, than to open your mout and prove it"
I try to live by that in real life.
Not here, though. Otherwise, what would be the point?
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

Lucretius
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#7 Post by Lucretius » October 9th, 2009, 7:13 pm

I like the George Eliot quote.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." - H.L. Mencken

lomoart
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Joined: October 12th, 2009, 7:17 am

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#8 Post by lomoart » October 12th, 2009, 8:00 am

I just love George Orwell, I have 2 of his books.

Charles de Montesquieu: "No kingdom has shed more blood than the kingdom of Christ."

More people have been killed in the name of god than for any other reason. (I forgot who said this, but I agree)

Guile
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#9 Post by Guile » October 13th, 2009, 9:29 pm

"God is a Concept by which we measure our pain"
John Lennon

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SoldierForTruth
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Joined: August 28th, 2009, 3:39 pm

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#10 Post by SoldierForTruth » October 14th, 2009, 3:35 pm

"'I must do something,' will always solve more problems than 'Something must be done.'"
-Unknown

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
-Albert Einstein

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."
-Samuel Clemens

"Life is not an emergency."
-Ram Dass

"Most evils are man-made; all evils must be man-solved."
-Corliss Lamont

"Come in or we'll both starve!"
-Sign in a restaurant window

All too true...
"As a novelist, I tell stories, and people give me money. Then financial planners tell me stories, and I give them money."
-Martin Cruz Smith
"Loyalty to tradition is not enough. You've got to keep asking yourself: What if I'm wrong?"
-Daniel C. Dennett

Lucretius
Posts: 262
Joined: July 26th, 2007, 11:19 pm

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#11 Post by Lucretius » October 14th, 2009, 8:24 pm

"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind." - Bertrand Russell.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." - H.L. Mencken

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getreal
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#12 Post by getreal » October 14th, 2009, 9:35 pm

Lucretius wrote:"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind." - Bertrand Russell.

That's quite bleak.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

Lucretius
Posts: 262
Joined: July 26th, 2007, 11:19 pm

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#13 Post by Lucretius » October 14th, 2009, 9:56 pm

"Do not believe that he who seeks to comfort you lives untroubled among the simple and quiet words that sometimes do you good. His life has much difficulty and sadness. . . . Were it otherwise he would never have been able to find those words.

- Rainer Maria Rilke.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." - H.L. Mencken

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Ken H
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#14 Post by Ken H » October 14th, 2009, 10:13 pm

Here are some unbelievable quotes to show how distorted some views are:

"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
- Pat Robertson

"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country."
- Jerry Falwell

"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God."
- George HW Bush, (Bush Sr.)
This is one of the great social functions of science - to free people of superstition. - Steven Weinberg

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Alan C.
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#15 Post by Alan C. » October 14th, 2009, 10:21 pm

(Paraphrasing)
When you find a job you love, you'll never work again. Churchill?
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

Nick
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Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#16 Post by Nick » October 14th, 2009, 11:56 pm

Lucretius wrote:"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind." - Bertrand Russell.
IIRC That comes from his autobiography, which i read over 20 years ago (so I may be wrong :D ). You may be interested in his "Why I am not a Christian", which I read while still at school. It can be found here. I love his discussion of hell! :laughter:

Lucretius
Posts: 262
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#17 Post by Lucretius » October 15th, 2009, 2:24 am

Nick wrote:
Lucretius wrote:"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind." - Bertrand Russell.
IIRC That comes from his autobiography, which i read over 20 years ago (so I may be wrong :D ). You may be interested in his "Why I am not a Christian", which I read while still at school. It can be found here. I love his discussion of hell! :laughter:
Hey Nick,

Yes I have that book. I have read some of it.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." - H.L. Mencken

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SoldierForTruth
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#18 Post by SoldierForTruth » October 15th, 2009, 5:00 pm

Ken H wrote:Here are some unbelievable quotes to show how distorted some views are:

"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
- Pat Robertson

"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country."
- Jerry Falwell

"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God."
- George HW Bush, (Bush Sr.)
Here's some from my collection that I marked with "Hateful!":
"I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot... the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people."
-Mother Teresa

"Today, abortion is the worst evil, and the greatest enemy of peace."
-Mother Teresa

And the one you have from H. W. as well. I try not to collect too many hateful quotes.
"Loyalty to tradition is not enough. You've got to keep asking yourself: What if I'm wrong?"
-Daniel C. Dennett

Nick
Posts: 11027
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#19 Post by Nick » October 15th, 2009, 7:24 pm

Ken, those quotes are really chilling. Though we don't have nearly so many wingnuts in the UK, it serves as a reminder for why we must (IMO) be active humanists.

"All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" Edmund Burke

I like that one, but on checking its veracity it seems that it is impossible to pin down and more likely comes from Tolstoy's War & Peace. Oh well. I still like it.

I also like:

"Do the business of the day on the day."

and

"News is never as good or as bad as when first reported"

Both of the above are from the first Duke of Wellington.

Talking of which:

"Oh, look! Those are Napoleon's boots!"
No they're not! They're Wellingtons!"
-I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again :D

and...

"The darkest hour is just before dawn"

- Mamas and the Papas

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Emma Woolgatherer
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Re: Favourite Quotes Thread

#20 Post by Emma Woolgatherer » October 15th, 2009, 8:36 pm

Lucretius wrote:"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest" - Denis Diderot
For some reason, I really like that one. When did I get so bloodthirsty?

Here are a few of my favourites, in no particular order:

***

'A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right.' Thomas Paine

'All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.' Thomas Paine

'No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it endeavors to establish.' David Hume

'Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do.' Voltaire

'It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.' Voltaire

'Have not prisons [---][/---] which kill all will and force of character in man, which enclose within their walls more vices than are met with on any other spot of the globe [---][/---] always been universities of crime?' Peter Kropotkin

'Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.' Karl Marx

'People go to church for the same reasons they go to a tavern: to stupefy themselves, to forget their misery, to imagine themselves, for a few minutes anyway, free and happy.' Mikhail Bakunin

'The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.' Mikhail Bakunin

'In England we have come to rely upon a comfortable time-lag of fifty years or a century intervening between the perception that something ought to be done and a serious attempt to do it.' H.G. Wells

'Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.' Rosa Luxemburg

'If we don't believe in free expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all. ' Noam Chomsky

'The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.' George Bernard Shaw

'I can forgive Alfred Nobel for having invented dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize.' George Bernard Shaw (Not one of my favourites, but topical!)

'The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said "This is mine," and found people naive enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society. From how many crimes, wars, and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not any one have saved mankind, by pulling up the stakes, or filling up the ditch, and crying to his fellows: Beware of listening to this impostor; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody.' Jean Jacques Rousseau

'If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.' Emma Goldman

'Every daring attempt to make a great change in existing conditions, every lofty vision of new possibilities for the human race, has been labeled Utopian.' Emma Goldman

'A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not even worth glancing at.' Oscar Wilde

'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.' Oscar Wilde

'Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet.' Jeremy Bentham


***

Emma

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