Mankind Quotes - Page 36

• Critics, like the rest of mankind, are very frequently misled by interest.

  Samuel Johnson

  Misled, Interest, Critics

  Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.148

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• We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because for a time they are not remembered; he may, therefore, justly be numbered among the benefactors of mankind who contracts the great rules of life into short sentences that may early be impressed on the memory, and taught by frequent recollection to occur habitually to the mind.

  Samuel Johnson

  Memories, Fall, Errors

  Samuel Johnson (1851). “The beauties of Johnson: choice selections from his works”, p.27

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• Mankind is unamendable.

  Alexander Pope

  Alexander Pope (1776). “The Works of Alexander Pope Esq”, p.198

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• If no God, mankind is a set of bi-pedal carbon units of mostly water. And nothing else

  Douglas Wilson

  Water, Pedals, Carbon

  "Wilson-Till Debate". Credenda/Agenda Magazine (Vol. 7; No. 1), infidels.org.

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• A man is as old as his arteries and his interests. If he permits his economic, religious, or social arteries to harden, or loses interest in whatever concerns mankind... he will need only six feet of earth.

  Josephus Daniels

  Religious, Men, Feet

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• Gratitude is a virtue which, according to the general apprehension of mankind, approaches more nearly than almost any other social virtue to justice.

  Samuel Parr

  Gratitude, Justice, Virtue

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• What I find most injurious to mankind in modern advertising is the constant appeal to material standards and values, the elevating of material things into an end in themselves, a virtue.

  Ann Bridge

  Advertising, Virtue, Modern

  Ann Bridge (2013). “Singing Waters”, p.178, A&C Black

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• At present, there can be little doubt that the whole of mankind is in mortal danger, not because we are short of scientific and technological know-how, but because we tend to use it destructively, without wisdom. More education can help us only if produces more wisdom.

  E. F. Schumacher

  Doubt, Growth, Use

  E.F. Schumacher (1975). “Small is Beautiful”

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• In the second century of the Christian era, the Empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilised portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown and disciplined valour. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. Their peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury.

  Edward Gibbon

  Christian, Powerful, Luxury

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.3, Wordsworth Editions

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• Whatever evils either reason or declamation have imputed to extensive empire, the power of Rome was attended with some beneficial consequences to mankind; and the same freedom of intercourse which extended the vices, diffused likewise the improvements of social life.

  Edward Gibbon

  Rome, History, Evil

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:”, p.100, Sheba Blake Publishing

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• Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.

  Edward Gibbon

  Names, People, History

  Edward Gibbon (1862). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.210

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• Antoninus diffused order and tranquility over the greatest part of the earth. His reign is marked by the rare advantage of furnishing very few materials for history; which is, indeed, little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.

  Edward Gibbon

  Order, History, Littles

  Edward Gibbon, Francis Parkman, William H. Prescott, Theodore Roosevelt (2012). “The Modern Library Essential World History 4-Book Bundle: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Abridged); Montcalm and Wolfe; History of the Conquest of Mexico; The Naval War of 1812”, p.117, Modern Library

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• The knowledge that is suited to our situation and powers, the whole compass of moral, natural, and mathematical science, was neglected by the new Platonists; whilst they exhausted their strength in the verbal disputes of metaphysics, attempted to explore the secrets of the invisible world, and studied to reconcile Aristotle with Plato, on subjects of which both these philosophers were as ignorant as the rest of mankind.

  Edward Gibbon

  Plato, History, Secret

  Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman (1854). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.449

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• It is incumbent on us diligently to remember that the kingdom of heaven was promised to the poor in spirit, and that minds afflicted by calamity and the contempt of mankind cheerfully listen to the divine promise of future happiness; while, on the contrary, the fortunate are satisfied with the possession of this world; and the wise abuse in doubt and dispute their vain superiority of reason and knowledge.

  Edward Gibbon

  Wise, History, Heaven

  Edward Gibbon (1854). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.217

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• The frequent repetition of miracles serves to provoke, where it does not subdue, the reason of mankind.

  Edward Gibbon

  History, Miracle, Doe

  Edward Gibbon (1875). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.263

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• As long as the same passions and interests subsist among mankind, the questions of war and peace, of justice and policy, which were debated in the councils of antiquity, will frequently present themselves as the subject of modern deliberation.

  Edward Gibbon

  War, Passion, Long

  Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman, M. Guizot (François), Sir William Smith (1862). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.320

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• At the hour of midnight the Salerian gate was silently opened, and the inhabitants were awakened by the tremendous sound of the Gothic trumpet. Eleven hundred and sixty-three years after the foundation of Rome, the Imperial city, which had subdued and civilised so considerable a part of mankind, was delivered to the licentious fury of the tribes of Germany and Scythia.

  Edward Gibbon

  Rome, Years, Cities

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• That education should be regulated by law and should be an affair of state is not to be denied, but what should be the character of this public education, and how young persons should be educated, are questions which remain to be considered. As things are, there is disagreement about the subjects. For mankind are by no means agreed about the things to be taught, whether we look to virtue or the best life. Neither is it clear whether education is more concerned with intellectual or with moral virtue.

  Aristotle

  Education, Character, Mean

  Aristotle (2016). “Pocket Aristotle”, p.320, Simon and Schuster

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• In the many forms of government which have sprung up there has always been an acknowledgement of justice and proportionate equality, although mankind fail in attaining them, as indeed I have already explained. Democracy, for example, arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal.

  Aristotle

  Men, Sprung Up, Justice

  Aristotle, Stephen Everson (1996). “Aristotle: The Politics and the Constitution of Athens”, p.120, Cambridge University Press

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• Again, the male is by nature superior, and the female inferior; and the one rules, and the other is ruled; this principle, of necessity, extends to all mankind.

  Aristotle

  Principles, Males, Female

  Aristotle (2013). “The Essential Aristotle”, p.232, Simon and Schuster

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• The avarice of mankind is insatiable; at one time two obols was pay enough; but now, when this sum has become customary, men always want more and more without end.

  Aristotle

  Men, Two, Want

  Aristotle (2016). “Politics”, p.58, Aristotle

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• Most men appear to think that the art of despotic government is statesmanship, and what men affirm to be unjust and inexpedient in their own case they are not ashamed of practicing towards others; they demand just rule for themselves, but where other men are concerned they care nothing about it. Such behavior is irrational; unless the one party is, and the other is not, born to serve, in which case men have a right to command, not indeed all their fellows, but only those who are intended to be subjects; just as we ought not to hunt mankind, whether for food or sacrifice . .

  Aristotle

  Art, Sacrifice, Men

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• [Meanness] is more ingrained in man's nature than Prodigality; the mass of mankind are avaricious rather than open-handed.

  Aristotle

  Men, Human Nature, Mass

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• Both Self-restraint and Unrestraint are a matter of extremes as compared with the character of the mass of mankind; the restrained man shows more and the unrestrained man less steadfastness than most men are capable of.

  Aristotle

  Character, Men, Self

  Aristotle (1996). “The Nicomachean Ethics”, p.188, Wordsworth Editions

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• Nor need it cause surprise that things disagreeable to the good man should seem pleasant to some men; for mankind is liable to many corruptions and diseases, and the things in question are not really pleasant, but only pleasant to these particular persons, who are in a condition to think them so.

  Aristotle

  Men, Thinking, Good Man

  Aristotle (1996). “The Nicomachean Ethics”, p.271, Wordsworth Editions

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