Quotes from Philosophers, Psychologists, and the 'Rock Stars' of Spirituality

I'm sharing some quotes from well known philosophers, psychologists and the rock stars of spirituality. This can give you a bit of a flavor of their philosophies and thoughts in different areas.

Add other quotes and we can discuss them. It would be a nice Thanksgiving holiday break from the fighting that can go on here at times. Let's discuss something helpful and/or enlightening ...

Interesting note - Confucius, Buddha and Jesus had some similar quotes ... do unto others what you'd have them do unto you ... live in the present moment and don't live in the past ... keep trying ... actions/not words ... that kind of thing.

FROM PLATO -
- One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
- Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.
- Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty.
- Democracy... is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder; and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.
- There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.
- When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.
- Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil.
- Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.
- Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.
- Knowledge without justice ought to be called cunning rather than wisdom.
- No man should bring children into the world who is unwilling to persevere to the end in their nature and education.
- The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.
- The blame is his who chooses: God is blameless.

FROM SIGMUND FREUD
- America is a mistake, a giant mistake.
- Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.
- A civilization which leaves so large a number of its participants unsatisfied and drives them into revolt neither has nor deserves the prospect of a lasting existence.
- A man who has been the indisputable favorite of his mother keeps for life the feeling of a conqueror.
- It is impossible to overlook the extent to which civilization is built upon a renunciation of instinct.
- Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.
- Religion is an illusion and it derives its strength from the fact that it falls in with our instinctual desires.
- Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
- And of course ... lots of sex sex sex stuff ... I won't quote it here.

FROM CARL JUNG -
- The healthy man does not torture others - generally it is the tortured who turn into torturers.
- Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
- The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.
- Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people
- A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them.
- Our heart glows, and secret unrest gnaws at the root of our being. Dealing with the unconscious has become a question of life for us.

ATTRIBUTED TO BUDDHA - (Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni,)
- Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
- Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
- The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood.
- However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?
- No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
- There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
- Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
- In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.
- Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
- There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.
- Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.

FROM JESUS CHRIST -
- Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day
- But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
- All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbor as yourself.
- If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
- For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?
- Give to everyone who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.

ATTRIBUTED TO CONFUCIUS -
- In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
- An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
- Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
- By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
- Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
- Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
- A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
- Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
- Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
- What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
- To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

FROM EDITH STEIN -
- The nation... doesn't simply need what we have. It needs what we are.
- One could say that in case of need, every normal and healthy woman is able to hold a position. And there is no profession which cannot be practiced by a woman.
- As for what concerns our relations with our fellow men, the anguish in our neighbor's soul must break all precept. All that we do is a means to an end, but love is an end in itself, because God is love.

ADD MORE AND FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS THE WORDS OF WISDOM
For more reading/research
List of Philosophers by Time Period

reply to post by FlyersFan

- There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.

Indeed. One of my favorites of his.
He goes on to talk about how the philosophers are the LEAST likely to WANT to be heads of state; but they are the most able, and will serve because it is important for the society, if appointed.

Also, Jung really had it together, in my opinion:
To repeat his lines:

- The healthy man does not torture others - generally it is the tortured who turn into torturers.

- Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

- The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.

- Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people

- A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them.

Yep, we alone can walk our path.
Those are wonderful quotes, ALL of the ones you posted. Thanks.
I give thanks for people like you.

Nice thread, S n'f.

From a rockstar,

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

Jimi Hendrix

Ranong
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

I like Hendrix. I"m probably showing my age by admitting it.

Here's another interesting one from a 'rock star' -
“Society has traditionally always tried to find scapegoats for its problems. Well here I am.”
Marilyn Manson - 1996

reply to post by FlyersFan


Your outting both of us by saying it!! lol

King Solomon: " who is wise? He who learns from every man"

reply to post by dashen

HA! You inspired me. Some more of Solomon's wisdom ...

- Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel.
- A fool is wise in his eyes.
- Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
- A merry heart doeth good like medicine.
- All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full.