edonfire's submitted quotes
I should not obtrude my affairs so much on the notice of my readers if very particular inquiries had not been made by my townsmen concerning my mode of life.
With a little more deliberation in the choice of their pursuits, all men would perhaps become essentially students and observers.
Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling, and spending their lives like serfs.
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.
There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.
A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.
Often when he looked at the multidude of wares exposed for sale, [Socrates] would say to himself, "How many things I can do without!"
There is only one good, that is, knowledge, and only one evil, that is, ignorance.
A desire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being, whose mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge.
Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labour; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.
I say that [if] you never take the trouble to find out which side is right or wrong you have no right to express an opinion. You are not fit to vote. You should not be allowed to vote.
The present system means joyless drudgery, semi- starvation, rags and premature death; and they vote for it and uphold it. Let them have what they vote for! Let them drudge and let them starve!
Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the life blood of real civilisation.
Examinations are formidable things, even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.
When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defence strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.