We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails. Eric Hoffer More Quotes by Eric Hoffer More Quotes From Eric Hoffer To find the cause of our ills in something outside ourselves, something specific that can be spotted and eliminated, is a diagnosis that cannot fail to appeal. To say that the cause of our troubles is not in us but in the Jews , and pass immediately to the extermination of the Jews, is a prescription likely to find a wide acceptance. Eric Hoffer diagnosis causes acceptance If anybody asks me what I have accomplished, I will say all I have accomplished is that I have written a few good sentences. Eric Hoffer sentences ask-me accomplished The proselytizing fanatic strengthens his own faith by converting others. The creed whose legitimacy is most easily challenged is likely to develop the strongest proselytizing impulse. Eric Hoffer legitimacy impulse creeds There is no reason to believe that the nature of the violent minorities is now greatly different from what it was in the past. What has changed is the will and ability of the majority to react. Eric Hoffer majority believe past Actual creativeness is a matter of moments. One has to piece together the minute grains to make a lump. And it is so easy to miss the momentary flashes, it is like sluicing in placer mining. He who lets the flakes float by has nothing to show for his trouble. Eric Hoffer pieces missing together It is the pull of opposite poles that stretches souls. And only stretched souls make music. Eric Hoffer tension soul opposites Those who see their lives as spoiled and wasted crave equality and fraternity more than they do freedom. If they clamor for freedom, it is but freedom to establish equality and uniformity. Eric Hoffer fraternity spoiled equality If a society is to preserve stability and a degree of continuity, it must learn how to keep its adolescents from imposing their tastes, values, and fantasies on everyday life. Eric Hoffer degrees everyday taste It is thus with most of us; we are what other people say we are. We know ourselves chiefly by hearsay. Eric Hoffer gossip character people Resistance, whether to one's appetites or to the ways of the world, is a chief factor in the shaping of character. Eric Hoffer character way world To lose one's life is but to lose the present; and, clearly, to lose a defiled, worthless present is not to lose much. Eric Hoffer worthless loses life-is The autonomous individual, striving to realize himself and prove his worth, has created all that is great in literature, art, music, science and technology. The autonomous individual, also, when he can neither realize himself nor justify his existence by his own efforts, is a breeding call of frustration, and the seed of the convulsions which shake our world to its foundations. Eric Hoffer frustration technology art It was the craving to be a one and only people which impelled the ancient Hebrews to invent a one and only God whose one and only people they were to be. Eric Hoffer being-positive atheism people There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still have to prove our worth anew each day; we have to prove that we are as good today as we were yesterday. But when we have a valid alibi for not achieving anything we are fixed, so to speak, for life. Eric Hoffer achievement yesterday doe ...in the shaping of a life, chance and the ability to respond to chance are everything. Eric Hoffer chances-are ability chance Free men are aware of the imperfection inherent in human affairs, and they are willing to fight and die for that which is not perfect. Eric Hoffer fighting perfect men Action is basically a reaction against loss of balance - a flailing of the arms to to regain one's balance. To dispose a soul to action, we must upset its equilibrium. Eric Hoffer upset soul loss Sensuality reconciles us with the human race. The misanthropy of the old is due in large part to the fading of the magic glow of desire. Eric Hoffer magic race desire We do not really feel grateful toward those who make our dreams come true; they ruin our dreams. Eric Hoffer hope dream love They who clamor loudest for freedom are often the ones least likely to be happy in a free society. Eric Hoffer true-believer clamor believer