Tag: society

Quote of the Day

The beliefs about right and wrong which guide our actions in dealing with men in society, and the beliefs about physical nature which guide our actions in dealing with animate and inanimate bodies, these never suffer from investigation; they can take care of themselves, without being propped up by ’acts of faith,’ the clamour of paid advocates, or the suppression of contrary evidence.

“The beliefs about right and wrong which guide our actions in dealing with men in society, and the beliefs about physical nature which guide our actions in dealing with animate and inanimate bodies, these never suffer from investigation; they can take care of themselves, without being propped up by ‘acts of faith,’ the clamour of paid advocates, or the suppression of contrary evidence.” — William Kingdon Clifford, The Ethics of Belief

Quote of the Day

Underneath all his preoccupations with sex, society, religion, etc. (all the staple abstractions that allow the forebrain to chatter) there is, quite simply, a man tortured beyond endurance by the lack of tenderness in the world.

“Underneath all his preoccupations with sex, society, religion, etc. (all the staple abstractions that allow the forebrain to chatter) there is, quite simply, a man tortured beyond endurance by the lack of tenderness in the world.” — Lawrence Durrell, The Alexandria Quartet

Quote of the Day

Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind.

“Few of us can easily surrender our belief that society must somehow make sense. The thought that the state has lost its mind and is punishing so many innocent people is intolerable. And so the evidence has to be internally denied.” — Arthur Miller, “Why I Wrote The Crucible,” The New Yorker (1996-10-21)

Quote of the Day

If those in charge of our society — politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television — can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.

“If those in charge of our society — politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television — can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.” — Howard Zinn, Declarations of Independence