Men weary as much of not doing the things they want to do as of doing the things they do not want to do. Eric Hoffer More Quotes by Eric Hoffer More Quotes From Eric Hoffer It is the stretched soul that makes music, and souls are stretched by the pull of opposites-opposite bents, tastes, yearnings, loyalties. Where there is no polarity-where energies flow smoothly in one direction-there will be much doing but no music. Eric Hoffer one-direction music loyalty EVERY intense desire is perhaps basically a desire to be different from what we are. Eric Hoffer intense different desire It is the around-the-corner brand of hope that prompts people to action, while the distant hope acts as an opiate. Eric Hoffer opiates hope people We are more prone to generalize the bad than the good. We assume that the bad is more potent and contagious. Eric Hoffer generalization contagious assuming Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about. And since we know least about ourselves, we are ready to believe all that is said about us. Hence the mysterious power of both flattery and calumny. Eric Hoffer calumny-is believe knowledge We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves. Eric Hoffer lied wisdom lying Creativity is discontent translated into arts. Eric Hoffer creativity inspirational art Whenever you trace the origin of a skill or practices which played a crucial role in the ascent of man, we usually reach the realm of play. Eric Hoffer skills play men When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. Eric Hoffer sarcasm freedom sarcastic When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything else - we are the busiest people in the world. Eric Hoffer business people world It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities. Eric Hoffer success opportunity men It is the individual only who is timeless. Societies, cultures, and civilizations -- past and present -- are often incomprehensible to outsiders, but the individual's hungers, anxieties, dreams, and preoccupations have remained unchanged through the millenia. Eric Hoffer dream civilization past The basic test of freedom is perhaps less in what we are free to do than in what we are free not to do. Eric Hoffer tests freedom The wise learn from the experience of others, and the creative know how to make a crumb of experience go a long way. Eric Hoffer creative wise long The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps some people from becoming anything. Eric Hoffer fear inspirational people Absolute power corrupts even when exercised for humane purposes. The benevolent despot who sees himself as a shepherd of the people still demands from others the submissiveness of sheep. The taint inherent in absolute power is not its inhumanity but its anti-humanity. Eric Hoffer humanity sheep people We feel free when we escape - even if it be but from the frying pan to the fire. Eric Hoffer frying-pans freedom fire Youth itself is a talent, a perishable talent. Eric Hoffer youth talent time The genuine artist is as much a dissatisfied person as the revolutionary, yet how diametrically opposed are the products each distills from his dissatisfaction. Eric Hoffer genuine revolutionary art The pre-human creature from which man evolved was unlike any other living thing in its malicious viciousness toward its own kind. Humanization was not a leap forward but a groping toward survival. Eric Hoffer survival kind men
