Symbolism is no mere idle fancy or corrupt degeneration: it is inherent in the very texture of human life. Alfred North Whitehead More Quotes by Alfred North Whitehead More Quotes From Alfred North Whitehead The foundation of reverence is this perception, that the present holds within itself the complete sum of existence, backwards and forwards, that whole amplitude of time, which is eternity. Alfred North Whitehead foundation perception eternity Human nature loses its most precious quality when it is robbed of its sense of things beyond, unexplored and yet insistent. Alfred North Whitehead human-nature quality humanity The point about zero is that we do not need to use it in the operation of daily life. No one goes out to buy zero fish. Alfred North Whitehead zero math needs Great art is more than a transient refreshment. It is something which adds to the permanent richness of the soul's self-attainment. It justifies itself both by its immediate enjoyment, and also by its discipline of the inmost being. Its discipline is not distinct from enjoyment but by reason of it. It transforms the soul into the permanent realization of values extending beyond its former self. Alfred North Whitehead self writing art I put forward as a general definition of civilization, that a civilized society is exhibiting the five qualities of Truth, Beauty, Adventure, Art, Peace. Alfred North Whitehead beauty peace art In a sense, knowledge shrinks as wisdom grows, for details are swallowed up in principles. The details for knowledge which are important, will be picked up ad hoc in each avocation of life, but the habit of the active utilization of well-understood principles is the final possession of WISDOM. Alfred North Whitehead details important principles It does not matter what men say in words, so long as their activities are controlled by settled instincts. The words may ultimately destroy the instincts; but until this has occurred, words do not count. Alfred North Whitehead may men long Value is coextensive with reality. Alfred North Whitehead values reality Religion will not regain its old power until it can face change in the same spirit as does science. Alfred North Whitehead spirit faces doe Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self. Alfred North Whitehead self secret art Ideas won't keep. Something must be done about them. Alfred North Whitehead life-and-love creativity motivation It takes an extraordinary intelligence to contemplate the obvious. Alfred North Whitehead extraordinary obvious contemplating We think in generalities, but we live in detail. Alfred North Whitehead educational time inspirational Ninety percent of our lives is governed by emotion. Our brains merely register and act upon what is telegraphed to them by our bodily experience. Intellect is to emotion as our clothes are to our bodies; we could not very well have civilized life without clothes, but we would be in a poor way if we had only clothes without bodies. Alfred North Whitehead clothes would-be brain When you're average, you're just as close to the bottom as you are the top. Alfred North Whitehead bottom average The oneness of the universe, and the oneness of each element of the universe, repeat themselves to the crack of doom in the creative advance from creature to creature, each creature including in itself the whole of history and exemplifying the self-identity of things and their mutual diversities. Alfred North Whitehead oneness diversity self Education with inert ideas is not only useless; it is above all things harmful. Alfred North Whitehead useless education ideas Great people plant trees they'll never sit under. Alfred North Whitehead wisdom tree people Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise Alfred North Whitehead intellectual-curiosity genius exercise The motive of success is not enough. Alfred North Whitehead motive enough success
