However different the holy causes people die for, they perhaps die basically for the same thing. Eric Hoffer More Quotes by Eric Hoffer More Quotes From Eric Hoffer It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things which excites people to revolt. Eric Hoffer tastesufferingpeople Intolerance is the ''Do Not Touch'' sign on something that cannot bear touching. We do not mind having our hair ruffled, but we will not tolerate any familiarity with the toupee which covers our baldness. Eric Hoffer humoroushairfunny In man's life, the absence of an essential component usually leads to the adoption of a substitute. The substitute is usually embraced with vehemence and extremism, for we have to convince ourselves that what we took as second choice is the best there ever was. Thus blind faith is to a considerable extent a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves; insatiable desire a substitute for hope; accumulation a substitute for growth; fervent hustling a substitute for purposeful action; and pride a substitute for an unattainable self-respect. Eric Hoffer prideselfmen Without a sense of proportion there can be neither good taste nor genuine intelligence, nor perhaps moral integrity. Eric Hoffer balancetasteintegrity The Americans are poor haters in international affairs because of their innate feeling of superiority over all foreigners. An American's hatred for a fellow American is far more virulent than any antipathy he can work up against foreigners. Should Americans begin to hate foreigners wholeheartedly, it will be an indication that they have lost confidence in their own way of life. Eric Hoffer hatehatredfeelings Self-righteousness is a loud din raised to drown the voice of guilt within us. Eric Hoffer voicehumilityself We often use strong language not to express a powerful emotion but to evoke it in us. Eric Hoffer powerfulstronguse The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. Eric Hoffer denialharshself It is always safe to assume that people are more subtle and less sensitive than they seem. Eric Hoffer moneyrelationshippeople All leaders strive to turn their followers into children. Eric Hoffer followersleaderchildren Freedom means freedom from forces and circumstances which would turn man into a thing, which would impose on man the passivity and predictability of matter. By this test, absolute power is the manifestation most inimical to human uniqueness. Absolute power wants to turn people into malleable clay. Eric Hoffer powermenmean The desire to be different from the people we live with is sometimes the result of our rejection- real or imagined- by them. Eric Hoffer rejectionrealpeople A great man's greatest good luck is to die at the right time. Eric Hoffer greatnessgood-lucktime We do not usually look for allies when we love. Indeed, we often look on those who love with us as rivals and trespassers. But we always look for allies when we hate. Eric Hoffer allieshatelove The sense of inferiority inherent in the act of imitation breeds resentment. The impulse of the imitators is to overcome the model they imitate. Eric Hoffer inferiorityresentmentovercoming Excesses are essentially gestures. It is easy to be extremely cruel, magnanimous, humble or self-sacrificing when we see ourselves as actors in a performance. Eric Hoffer sacrificeselfhumble Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing. Eric Hoffer frustrationconfusionwant The pleasure we derive from doing favors is partly in the feeling it gives us that we are not altogether worthless. It is a pleasant surprise to ourselves. Eric Hoffer literaturefeelingsgiving One wonders whether a generation that demands instant satisfaction of all its needs and instant solution of the world's problems will produce anything of lasting value. Such a generation, even when equipped with the most modern technology, will be essentially primitive it will stand in awe of nature, and submit to the tutelage of medicine men. Eric Hoffer medicinetechnologymen There is a close connection between lack of confidence and the passionate state of mind. Eric Hoffer connectionspassionatemind
