Suffering... We owe to it all that is good in us, all that gives value to life; we owe to it pity, we owe to it courage, we owe to it all the virtues. Anatole France More Quotes by Anatole France More Quotes From Anatole France It is almost impossible systematically to constitute a natural moral law. Nature has no principles. She furnishes us with no reason to believe that human life is to be respected. Nature, in her indifference, makes no distinction between good and evil. Anatole France nature life believe Of all the ways of defining man, the worst is the one which makes him out to be a rational animal. Anatole France literature animal men The man of science multiples the points of contact between man and nature. Anatole France nature men science We reproach people for talking about themselves but it is the subject they treat best. Anatole France self talking people What men call civilization is the condition of present customs; what they call barbarism, the condition of past ones. Anatole France men civilization past Armenia is dying, but it will survive. The little blood that it still has left is precious blood that will give birth to a heroic generation. A nation that does not want to die, does not die. Anatole France dying giving blood To die for an idea is to set a rather high price upon conjecture. Anatole France atheism funny ideas The faculty of doubting is rare among men. A few choice spirits carry the germs of it in them, but these do not develop without training. Anatole France choices doubt men People who don't count won't count. Anatole France math teacher people In every well-governed state wealth is a sacred thing; in democracies it is the only sacred thing. Anatole France sacred-things wealth democracy The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity. Anatole France heartache curiosity men A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance. [The ability to focus on positives and distract your mind from negatives for at least a time is a necessary skill for being happy.] Anatole France gratitude skills ignorance The Kingdom of Heaven is a military autocracy and there is no public opinion in it. Anatole France public-opinion military heaven There is a certain impertinence in allowing oneself to be burned for an opinion. Anatole France moral opinion manners Theologians and philosophers, who make God the creator of Nature and the architect of the Universe, reveal Him to us as an illogical and unbalanced Being. They declare He is benevolent because they are afraid of Him, but they are forced to admit the truth that His ways are vicious and beyond understanding. They attribute a malignity to Him seldom to be found in any human being. And that is how they get human beings to worship Him. For our miserable species would never lavish worship on a just and benevolent God from whom they had nothing to fear. Anatole France philosopher understanding way Those who have given themselves the most concern about the happiness of peoples have made their neighbors very miserable. Anatole France neighbor miserable happiness Ignorance and error are necessary to life, like bread and water. Anatole France errors ignorance water For every monarchy overthrown the sky becomes less brilliant, because it loses a star. A republic is ugliness set free. Anatole France republic stars sky Devout believers are safeguarded in a high degree against the risk of certain neurotic illnesses; their acceptance of the universal neurosis spares them the task of constructing a personal one. Anatole France risk acceptance inspirational A tale without love is like beef without mustard: insipid. Anatole France beef love-is life
