Eric Hoffer ( 10 of 253 )
Conservatism is sometimes a symptom of sterility. Those who have nothing in them that can grow and develop must cling read more
Conservatism is sometimes a symptom of sterility. Those who have nothing in them that can grow and develop must cling to what they have in beliefs, ideas and possessions. The sterile radical, too, is basically conservative. He is afraid to let go of the ideas and beliefs he picked up in his youth lest his life be seen as empty and wasted.
The readiness to praise others indicates a desire for excellence and perhaps an ability to realize it.
The readiness to praise others indicates a desire for excellence and perhaps an ability to realize it.
...in the shaping of a life, chance and the ability to respond to chance are everything.
...in the shaping of a life, chance and the ability to respond to chance are everything.
We usually see only the things we are looking for- so much so that we sometimes see them where they read more
We usually see only the things we are looking for- so much so that we sometimes see them where they are not.
However different the holy causes people die for, they perhaps die basically for the same thing.
However different the holy causes people die for, they perhaps die basically for the same thing.
A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes read more
A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business.This minding of other people's business expresses itself in gossip, snooping and meddling, and also in feverish interest in communal, national and racial affairs. In running away from ourselves we either fall on our neighbor's shoulder or fly at his throat.
To the frustrated, freedom from responsibility is more attractive than freedom from restraint. They are eager to barter their independence read more
To the frustrated, freedom from responsibility is more attractive than freedom from restraint. They are eager to barter their independence for relief from the burdens of willing, deciding and being responsible for inevitable failure. They willingly abdicate the directing of their lives to those who want to plan, command and shoulder all responsibility.
We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.
We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.
No one has a right to happiness.
No one has a right to happiness.
There is always a chance that he who sets himself up as his brother's keeper will end up by being read more
There is always a chance that he who sets himself up as his brother's keeper will end up by being his jail-keeper.
