We must think of human progress, not as of something going on in the race in general, but as something going on in a small minority, perpetually beleaguered in a few walled towns. Now and then the horde of barbarians outside breaks through, and we have an armed effort to halt the process. That is, we have a Reformation, a French Revolution, a war for democracy, a Great Awakening. The minority is decimated and driven to cover. But a few survive- and a few are enough to carry on.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
We have no claim to share in the glory of our ancestors unless we strive to resemble them.
We have no claim to share in the glory of our ancestors unless we strive to resemble them.
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because read more
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die out, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
The more backwoodish a social group, juvenile or adult, the stricter its conception of the normal, and the readier it read more
The more backwoodish a social group, juvenile or adult, the stricter its conception of the normal, and the readier it will ridicule any departure from it.
To gauge the understanding and insight that metaphysics provides is to ask whether, in the final analysis, it helps us read more
To gauge the understanding and insight that metaphysics provides is to ask whether, in the final analysis, it helps us to cope with our world and harmonize our existence with nature, humanity, and ourselves, and leads to greater freedom and self-realization. Metaphysics is only the beginning. The end is human progress.
You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is read more
You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass. A touch here, a push there, and you bring back the reign of Saturn.
When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous read more
When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.
A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt dangerous.
A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt dangerous.
Our understanding of the world is achieved more effectively by conceptual improvements than by discovery of new facts...
Our understanding of the world is achieved more effectively by conceptual improvements than by discovery of new facts...
But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process will therefore be a recurring read more
But the development of human society does not go straight forward; and the epic process will therefore be a recurring process, the series a recurring series - though not in exact repetition .
