Ifs Quotes - Page 12

• If one denies that, when the meaning is true, then the meant is what is so, one rejects propositional truth. If the rejection is universal, then it is the self-destructive proposition that there are no true propositions. If the rejection is limited to the dogmas, then it is just a roundabout way of saying that all the dogmas are false.

  Bernard Lonergan

  Self, Rejection, Way

  Bernard Lonergan (2016). “A Second Collection”, p.16, University of Toronto Press

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• Certainly if the fundamental problem of society is that demands are infinite and resources are always limited, politics, not economics is the master science.

  Bernard Crick

  Fundamentals, Demand, Problem

  Bernard Crick (2013). “In Defence of Politics”, p.137, A&C Black

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• If a government is to do great new things, it will need more support. If a government is to change the world, it will need mass support. This is one of the discoveries of modern government.

  Bernard Crick

  Government, Discovery, Support

  "In Defence Of Politics". Book by Bernard Crick, 1962.

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• If, of course, one builds into the concept of an 'individual' all that Professor Hayek does in his Road To Serfdom, Individualism and Economic Order and many other works, which is, to put it briefly, the whole of laisser-faire economic theory, then plainly man as such a programmed predator has very little interest in being fraternal, or very little chance.

  Bernard Crick

  Men, Order, Doe

  Bernard Crick (1993). “In Defense of Politics”, p.234, University of Chicago Press

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• To me, feeling good about yourself as you get older is all about your attitude - if you think you're old, you'll feel old.

  Lulu

  Attitude, Thinking, Feel Good

  "I'm through with having Botox, says pop diva Lulu". www.dailymail.co.uk. March 31, 2008.

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• The human race is just getting started.... The cerebral cortex is only a hundred thousand years old. It's still a baby, sucking teat and eating Cheerios. We might get better, maybe even wise, if we can last another thousand years.

  Ellen Gilchrist

  Wise, Baby, Race

  Ellen Gilchrist (2008). “A Dangerous Age: A Novel”, p.11, Algonquin Books

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• If I go out of public life with one feeling, with one conviction, it is this : a deep regret for many bitter words I have used in my life, deep sincere repentance for my violence of language. But I hope they will be forgiven me by God and man, because not once in all my life have I attacked anybody unjustly from my point of view, and without believing it was my duty to do so.

  Henri Bourassa

  Regret, Believe, Men

  "Fiery Politician, Dies, The Globe and Mail" by Henri Bourassa, p. A1, September 1, 1952.

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• He who tears down the cross, what is there left to lift him to heaven? The church claiming to be a Christian church is false to the title, if she make the cross of Christ of none effect.

  Herrick Johnson

  Christian, Heaven, Tears

  "Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers" by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, (p. 173), 1895.

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• Other men have said, "If I could only live, I would establish and perpetuate an empire." This Christ of Galilee says, "My death shall do it." Other martyrs have died in simple fidelity to truth. This martyr dies that He may make His truth mighty over all hearts. He was a man; but was He only a man?

  Herrick Johnson

  Heart, Simple, Men

  Herrick Johnson (1881). “Christianity's Challenge: And Some Phases of Christianity Submitted for Candid Consideration”

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• Everyone has to have either this or that problem, if he can't find any problem, he loses all reason for living.

  Gao Xingjian

  Adversity, Problem, Reason

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• If everyone is a hero, then disasters and atrocities lose their meaning. It's only when certain people are heroes and others are not that these tragedies and disasters that mankind faces take on meaning.

  Gao Xingjian

  Hero, People, Tragedy

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• If literature is to transcend political interference and return to being a testimony of man and his existential predicament, it needs first to break away from ideology. To be without "isms," is to return to the individual and to return to viewing the world through the eyes of the writer, an individual who relies on his own perceptions and does not act as a spokesman for the people. The people already have rulers and election campaigners speaking in their name.

  Gao Xingjian

  Eye, Men, Names

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• If, while observing the boundless universe, the writer is able to scrutinise his own self as well as others, the resulting incisiveness of his observations will far surpass objective descriptions of reality.

  Gao Xingjian

  Writing, Reality, Self

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• In the century that has just passed, many of the intellectual elite went mad. It was as if, with the death of God, everyone suddenly turned into a saviour who wanted either to annihilate the obsolete world order or to establish a utopia. Naturally, there were writers among those who went mad. The fact that they had knowledge did not exempt intellectuals: there is madness everywhere. When one loses control over one's self, the result is madness.

  Gao Xingjian

  Self, Order, Mad

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• I hadn't originally intended to do any reading, what if I did read one book more or one book less, whether I read or not wouldn't make a difference, I would still be waiting to get cremated.

  Gao Xingjian

  Book, Reading, Differences

  Gao Xingjian (2000). “Soul Mountain”

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• Tradition, if not constantly recreated, can be as much a millstone as a mill-wheel.

  Colin MacInnes

  Wheels, Tradition, Mills

  1961 England, Half English,'England, Half English'.

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• I am now about to set seriously to work upon preparing for the press an account of my theory of Logic and Probabilities which in its present state I look upon as the most valuable if not the only valuable contribution that I have made or am likely to make to Science and the thing by which I would desire if at all to be remembered hereafter.

  George Boole

  Desire, Looks, Logic

  Letter to William Thomson, January 2, 1851.

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• If I knew you and you knew me- If both of us could clearly see, And with an inner sight divine The meaning of your heart and mine I'm sure that we would differ less And clasp our hands in friendliness: Our thoughts would pleasantly agree, If I knew you and you knew me.

  Nixon Waterman

  Heart, Sight, Hands

  Nixon Waterman (2017). “Boy Wanted”, p.59, Litres

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• From the humanistic point of view every human achievement is unforgettable and immortal in its essence, even if it is replaced by a "better" one.

  George Sarton

  Views, Essence, Achievement

  George Sarton (1964). “A History of Science: Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece”

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• The historical order is very interesting, but accidental and capricious; if we would to understand the growth of knowledge, we cannot be satisfied with accidents, we must explain how knowledge was gradually built up.

  George Sarton

  Order, Interesting, Historical

  George Sarton (1964). “A History of Science: Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece”

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• A deed happens in a definite place at a definite time, but if it be sufficiently great and pregnant, its virtue radiates everywhere in time and space.

  George Sarton

  Space, Deeds, Virtue

  George Sarton (1959). “A History of Science: Hellenistic science and culture in the last three centuries B.C”

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• If we are generous enough, we can stretch our souls everywhere and everywhen else. If we succeed in doing so, we shall discover that our present embraces the past and the future and that the whole world is our province.

  George Sarton

  Past, Soul, World

  George Sarton (1959). “A History of Science: Hellenistic science and culture in the last three centuries B.C”

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• I think I gave indications early on that mine wasn't just going to be a commercial, er, career. If that were the case, then the first record would have been 10 versions of 'Loser.' I always thought it would be interesting if there was no such thing as gold and platinum records, or record deals, and people were just making music. What would the music sound like?

  Beck

  Thinking, Careers, People

  Blender magazine, October 2002.

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• I have been moving around all my life. Going to different schools, living in different houses, shedding old roles, assuming new ones. This way of life is as natural to me as staying in one place is for other people. I do variations on the theme. I return to places where I used to be. I find my old personas. I try them on. If they still fit, I wear them out to a party or a show. If they begin to restrict my movements, I take them off. I am a human being, capable of mimicking anything I see or remember or can imagine.

  Ellen Gilchrist

  Moving, Party, School

  Ellen Gilchrist (2013). “Falling Through Space”, p.27, Open Road Media

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• One difference between libertarianism and socialism is that a socialist society can't tolerate groups of people practicing freedom, but a libertarian society can comfortably allow people to choose voluntary socialism. If a group of people - even a very large group - wanted to purchase land and own it in common, they would be free to do so. The libertarian legal order would require only that no one be coerced into joining or giving up his property.

  David Boaz

  Giving Up, Order, Land

  "The Coming Libertarian Age". Cato Policy Report, January/February 1997.

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