Nietzsche says:
"And to say it once more. Public opinions--private lazinesses."
"Enemies of truth. Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
"The value of insipid opponents. At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid."
"Not suitable as a party member. Whoever thinks much is not suitable as a party member: he soon thinks himself right through the party."
"The party man. The true party man learns no longer--he only experiences and judges; while Solon who was never a party man but pursued his goals alongside and above the parties, or against them, is characteristically the father of the plain maxim in which the health and inexhaustibility of Athens is contained: 'I grow old and always continue to learn.'"
-- Nietzsche --
from The Portable Nietzsche
Walter Kaufmann, Editor and translator
.What sayest thou? Relevant or not?
Showing posts with label political commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label political commentary. Show all posts
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Something to think about
Eric Hoffer
Reflections on the Human Condition
The following is a brief quote from Eric Hoffer's Reflections on the Human Condition.
"The savior who wants to turn men into angels is as much a hater of human nature as the totalitarian despot who wants to turn them into puppets.
There are similarities between absolute power and absolute faith: a demand for absolute obedience; a readiness to attempt the impossible; a bias for simple solutions--to cut the knot rather than unravel it; the viewing of compromise as surrender; the tendency to manipulate people and 'experiment with blood.' Both absolute power and absolute faith are instruments of dehumanisation. Hence absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power."
Reflections on the Human Condition was first published in 1973, over 35 years ago. This quote suggests that it could have been published last week.
What do you think? Is he overstating his case?
Eric Hoffer is the author of The True Believer, a work which should be read by anyone who wants to gain some understanding of the true believer, one who is ready to die for a belief and, unfortunately, equally ready to kill others in the name of that same belief. The true believer is one who knows the only way to paradise and is determined to lead you there, even if it kills you. This person exists on both sides of the political fence.
Reflections on the Human Condition
The following is a brief quote from Eric Hoffer's Reflections on the Human Condition.
"The savior who wants to turn men into angels is as much a hater of human nature as the totalitarian despot who wants to turn them into puppets.
There are similarities between absolute power and absolute faith: a demand for absolute obedience; a readiness to attempt the impossible; a bias for simple solutions--to cut the knot rather than unravel it; the viewing of compromise as surrender; the tendency to manipulate people and 'experiment with blood.' Both absolute power and absolute faith are instruments of dehumanisation. Hence absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power."
Reflections on the Human Condition was first published in 1973, over 35 years ago. This quote suggests that it could have been published last week.
What do you think? Is he overstating his case?
Eric Hoffer is the author of The True Believer, a work which should be read by anyone who wants to gain some understanding of the true believer, one who is ready to die for a belief and, unfortunately, equally ready to kill others in the name of that same belief. The true believer is one who knows the only way to paradise and is determined to lead you there, even if it kills you. This person exists on both sides of the political fence.
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