Many errors, of a truth, consist merely in the application of the wrong names of things. Baruch Spinoza More Quotes by Baruch Spinoza More Quotes From Baruch Spinoza Let unswerving integrity be your watchword. Baruch Spinoza moral-ethicsethicsintegrity Academies that are founded at public expense are instituted not so much to cultivate men's natural abilities as to restrain them. Baruch Spinoza historicalmenschool I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them. Baruch Spinoza philosophicaleffortwisdom Nature has no goal in view, and final causes are only human imaginings. Baruch Spinoza finalsgoalviews If men were born free, they would, so long as they remained free, form no conception of good and evil. Baruch Spinoza philosophicalmenlong Whatsoever is contrary to nature is contrary to reason, and whatsoever is contrary to reason is absurd. Baruch Spinoza philosophicalenvironmentnature To give aid to every poor man is far beyond the reach and power of every man. Care of the poor is incumbent on society as a whole. Baruch Spinoza careersgivingmen Philosophy has no end in view save truth; faith looks for nothing but obedience and piety. Baruch Spinoza viewsphilosophyreligion The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue. Baruch Spinoza philosophicalvirtuefirsts The mind has greater power over the emotions, and is less subject thereto, insofar as it understands all things to be necessary. Baruch Spinoza subjectsemotionmind [Believers] are but triflers who, when they cannot explain a thing, run back to the will of God; this is, truly, a ridiculous way of expressing ignorance. Baruch Spinoza ignorancerunningway Laws which prescribe what everyone must believe, and forbid men to say or write anything against this or that opinion, are often passed to gratify, or rather to appease the anger of those who cannot abide independent minds. Baruch Spinoza independentwritingbelieve The supreme mystery of despotism, its prop and stay, is to keep men in a state of deception, and with the specious title of religion to cloak the fear by which they must be held in check, so that they will fight for their servitude as if for salvation. Baruch Spinoza deceptionfightingmen The more intelligible a thing is, the more easily it is retained in the memory, and counterwise, the less intelligible it is, the more easily we forget it. Baruch Spinoza forget-itforgetmemories In the mind there is no absolute or free will; but the mind is determined to wish this or that by a cause, which has also been determined by another cause, and this last by another cause, and so on to infinity. Baruch Spinoza lastswishmind Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far as it can, to continue to move. Such a stone, being conscious merely of its own endeavor and not at all indifferent, would believe itself to be completely free, and would think that it continued in motion solely because of its own wish. This is that human freedom, which all boast that they possess, and which consists solely in the fact, that men are conscious of their own desire, but are ignorant of the causes whereby that desire has been determined. Baruch Spinoza menbelievemoving Men are mistaken in thinking themselves free; their opinion is made up of consciousness of their own actions, and ignorance of the causes by which they are determined. Baruch Spinoza ignorancementhinking We are so constituted by Nature that we easily believe the things we hope for, but believe only with difficulty those we fear, and that we regard such things more or less highly than is just. This is the source of the superstitions by which men everywhere are troubled. For the rest, I don Baruch Spinoza hopemenbelieve Be not astonished at new ideas; for it is well known to you that a thing does not therefore cease to be true because it is not accepted by many. Baruch Spinoza truthscienceideas Laws which can be broken without any wrong to one's neighbor are a laughing-stock; and such laws, instead of restraining the appetites and lusts of mankind, serve rather to heighten them. Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimusque negata [we always resist prohibitions, and yearn for what is denied us]. Baruch Spinoza brokenlawlaughing
