Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
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Society knows perfectly well how to kill a man and has methods more subtle than death
Society knows perfectly well how to kill a man and has methods more subtle than death
Men have ascribed to God imperfections that they would deplore in themselves.
Men have ascribed to God imperfections that they would deplore in themselves.
I think I am better than the people who are trying to reform me.
I think I am better than the people who are trying to reform me.
Society is a madhouse whose wardens are the officials and the police.
Society is a madhouse whose wardens are the officials and the police.
Some tribes [of monkeys] have taken to washing potatoes in the river before eating them, others have not. Sometimes migrating read more
Some tribes [of monkeys] have taken to washing potatoes in the river before eating them, others have not. Sometimes migrating groups of potato-washers meet non-washers, and the two groups watch each other's strange behavior with apparent bewilderment. But unlike the inhabitants of Lilliput, who fought holy crusades over the question at which end to break the egg, the potato-washing monkeys do not go to war with the non-washers, because the poor creatures have no language which would enable them to declare washing a diving commandment and eating unwashed potatoes a deadly heresy.
Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.
Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.
The real cause of personal existence is not the favor of the Almighty, but the sexual love of one's earthly read more
The real cause of personal existence is not the favor of the Almighty, but the sexual love of one's earthly parents.
A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.
A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.
Without speculation there is no good and original observation.
Without speculation there is no good and original observation.
