Objects are inorganic and biological values; subjects are social and intellectual values. Robert M. Pirsig More Quotes by Robert M. Pirsig More Quotes From Robert M. Pirsig Now the stream of our common consciousness seems to be obliterating its own banks, losing its central direction and purpose, flooding the lowlands, disconnecting and isolating the highlands and to no particular purpose other than the wasteful fulfillment of its own internal momentum Robert M. Pirsig momentumpurposelosing If you don't generalize you don't philosophize. Robert M. Pirsig ifsideas Science values static patterns. Robert M. Pirsig staticpatternsscience A motorcycle functions entirely in accordance with the laws of reason, and a study of the art of motorcycle maintenance is really a miniature study of the art of rationality itself. Robert M. Pirsig motorcyclelawart Laws of nature are human inventions, like ghosts. Laws of logic, or mathematics are also human inventions, like ghosts. The whole blessed thing is a human invention, including the idea that it isn't a human invention. Robert M. Pirsig blessedlawideas Boredom always precedes a period of great creativity. Robert M. Pirsig boredomcreativityperiods The Good was not a form of reality. It was reality itself, ever-changing, ultimately unknowable in any kind of fixed, rigid way. Robert M. Pirsig unityrealityway Sanity is not truth. Sanity is conformity to what is socially expected. Truth is sometimes in conformity, sometimes not. Robert M. Pirsig independencehealthtruth The more you look, the more you see. Robert M. Pirsig zen-motorcycle-maintenancelooks I go on living, more from force of habit than anything else. Robert M. Pirsig habitgoes-onlife Good is a noun rather than an adjective. Robert M. Pirsig nounsadjectivesunity That's the classical mind at work, runs fine inside but looks dingy on the surface. Robert M. Pirsig mindrunninglooks For me, a writer should be more like a lighthouse keeper, just out there by himself. He shouldn't get his ideas from other people all around him. Robert M. Pirsig lighthousepeopleideas Institutions such as schools, churches, governments and political organizations of every sort all tended to direct thought for ends other than truth, for the perpetuation of their own functions, and for the control of individuals in the service of these functions. Robert M. Pirsig governmentorganizationschool An evolutionary morality argues that The North was right in pursuing that war because a nation is a higher form of evolution than a human body and the principle of human equality is an even higher form than a nation Robert M. Pirsig bodyprincipleswar What keeps the world from reverting to the Neanderthal with each generation is the continuing, ongoing mythos... the huge body of common knowledge that unites our minds as cells are united in the body of man. Robert M. Pirsig cellsmindmen The best students always are flunking. Every good teacher knows that. Robert M. Pirsig very-goodstudentsteacher I really don't mind dying because I figure I haven't wasted this life. Robert M. Pirsig figuresdyingmind It's nice to start journeys pleasantly, even when you know they won't end that way. Robert M. Pirsig nicejourneyway Of course, the laws of science contain no matter and have no energy either and therefore do not exist except in people's minds. It's best to be completely scientific about the whole thing and refuse to believe in either ghosts or the laws of science. That way you're safe. That doesn't leave you very much to believe in, but that's scientific too. Robert M. Pirsig lawbelievepeople
