Philosophy Quotes

Questions about meaning, existence, and truth from thinkers who spent their lives searching for answers.

43879 quotes

C
"What is rational is real, and what is real must be rational."
Christian Wolff
C
"The complete concept of a substance contains all its predicates."
Christian Wolff
C
"Individuation comes from the complete determination of a thing's concept."
Christian Wolff
J
"The state is a community of families and their possessions, living together for a good and perfect life"
Jean Bodin
J
"Philosophy teaches us how to live a worthy life"
Jean Bodin
J
"Philosophy is the love of wisdom, not its possession"
Jean Bodin
H
"What is permitted to be done, is not for that reason permitted to be believed."
Hugo Grotius
H
"The power of thought shapes the course of history."
Hugo Grotius
J
"Mankind's true state of nature is found in its cultural development."
Johann Herder
J
"Nations are organic beings, each with their own character and destiny."
Johann Herder
J
"The finest philosophers are those who live their teachings."
Johann Herder
J
"Philosophy without life is mere academic exercise."
Johann Herder
C
"We must question authority with as much vigor as we question the powerless."
Catharine Macaulay
C
"Prejudice is the refuge of the intellectually lazy."
Catharine Macaulay
C
"The strength of an argument lies in its logic, not in the authority of the speaker."
Catharine Macaulay
C
"A person's worth is determined by their character, not their station."
Catharine Macaulay
J
"A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart."
Johann Goethe
J
"Desire is the very essence of man."
Johann Goethe
J
"You can use any river to go to the sea."
Johann Goethe
F
"The universe does not reveal its secrets to the cynical, only to the curious."
Friedrich Schiller
F
"To live without philosophy is to live blindly, stumbling through existence."
Friedrich Schiller
F
"Those who understand themselves understand all humanity."
Friedrich Schiller
C
"The perfection of things lies in their harmony with reason and the natural order of existence."
Christian Wolff
C
"The harmony of the universe demonstrates the existence of a supreme rational principle."
Christian Wolff
C
"The mind's capacity for reason sets humanity apart and obligates us to use it well."
Christian Wolff
C
"The laws of logic mirror the laws of being itself."
Christian Wolff
C
"Understanding our nature requires understanding the principles that govern all things."
Christian Wolff
C
"The interconnection of all things demonstrates the unity underlying apparent diversity."
Christian Wolff
C
"In every discipline, from mathematics to ethics, reason is the supreme guide."
Christian Wolff
C
"All knowledge ultimately traces back to fundamental principles accessible to reason."
Christian Wolff