We clamor for equality chiefly in matters in which we ourselves cannot hope to obtain excellence. Eric Hoffer More Quotes by Eric Hoffer More Quotes From Eric Hoffer The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves. Eric Hoffer forgivenessattitudelove It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbor. Eric Hoffer pregnancymeaningfullove Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. Eric Hoffer trustmathbeauty The capacity for getting along with our neighbor depends to a large extent on the capacity for getting along with ourselves. The self-respecting individual will try to be as tolerant of his neighbor's shortcomings as he is of his own. Eric Hoffer respectselftrying A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business. Eric Hoffer menwarpeople There is no doubt that in exchanging a self-centered for a selfless life we gain enormously in self-esteem. The vanity of the selfless, even those who practice utmost humility, is boundless. Eric Hoffer vanityhumilityself-esteem A dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the majority. Eric Hoffer majorityminoritiesliberty No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our shortcomings and transgressions. We need people to convince us that we are not as bad as we think we are. Eric Hoffer motivationalbookthinking Naivete in grownups is often charming; but when coupled with vanity it is indistinguishable from stupidity. Eric Hoffer vanitystupidityignorance Our present addiction to pollsters and forecasters is a symptom of our chronic uncertainty about the future... We watch our experts read the entrails of statistical tables and graphs the way the ancients watched their soothsayers read the entrails of a chicken. Eric Hoffer addictionexpertswatches Someone who thinks the world is always cheating him is right. He is missing that wonderful feeling of trust in someone or something. Eric Hoffer trustphilosophycheating Unlike the pattern which seems to prevail in the rest of life, in the human species the weak not only survive but often triumph over the strong. The self-hatred inherent in the weak unlocks energies far more formidable then those mobilized by an ordinary struggle for existence. Eric Hoffer rest-of-lifestrongstruggle Nowhere at present is there such a measureless loathing of their country by educated people as in America. Eric Hoffer countryamericapeople We see through others only when we see through ourselves. Eric Hoffer insight Add a few drops of venom to a half truth and you have an absolute truth. Eric Hoffer honestytruthadd A soul that is reluctant to share does not as a rule have much of its own. Miserliness is here a symptom of meagerness. Eric Hoffer miserysouldoe It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbor. ... Some of the worst tyrannies of our day genuinely are "vowed" to the service of mankind, yet can function only by pitting neighbor against neighbor. The all-seeing eye of a totalitarian regime is usually the watchful eye of the next-door neighbor. In a Communist state love of neighbor may be classed as counter-revolutionary. Eric Hoffer eyehumanitydoors The hardest thing to cope with is not selfishness or vanity or deceitfulness, but sheer stupidity. Eric Hoffer selfishnessvanitystupidity Disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy - the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation. Eric Hoffer disappointmenthopeexpectations Children are the keys of paradise. Eric Hoffer keyschildrenreality
