Zealot Quotes

• Instead of clearing his own heart the zealot tries to clear the world.

  Joseph Campbell

  Inspirational, Heart, Trying

  Joseph Campbell (2008). “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”, p.134, New World Library

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• Misuse of reason might yet return the world to pre-technological night; plenty of religious zealots hunger for just such a result, and are happy to use the latest technology to effect it.

  A.C. Grayling

  Religious, Technology, Night

  A.C. Grayling (2010). “The Heart of Things: Applying Philosophy to the 21st Century”, p.70, Hachette UK

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• To a zealot every one of his own sect is a saint, while the most upright of a different sect are to him children of perdition.

  Henry Home, Lord Kames

  Children, Different, Saint

  Henry Home (lord Kames.) (1817). “Elements of criticism [by H. Home].”, p.139

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• They [zealots] would have everybody be as blind as themselves: to them, to be clear-sighted is libertinism.

  Moliere

  Enlightenment, Blind, Reason

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• The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of God, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan. Many people don’t like that statement, but few can argue with it.

  Carl Sagan

  Jesus, Children, Names

  Carl Sagan (2011). “Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark”, p.209, Ballantine Books

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• It is a zealot's faith that blasts the shrines of the false god, but builds no temple to the true.

  Sydney Thompson Dobell

  Shrines, Temples, Blast

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• A single zealot may commence prosecutor, and better men be his victims.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Men, May, Victim

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• The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

  William Shakespeare

  Witty, Atheist, Memorable

  'The Merchant of Venice' (1596-8) act 1, sc. 3, l. [99]

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• Cynicism has its own zealots.

  Mason Cooley

  Cynicism

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• We always think we are right, and - search as I have - there is no evil under the sun that somebody somewhere won't argue is actually a good, no idiocy that hasn't got its perfectly serious defenders, and no tyrant, past or present - no matter how bloody - without some bunch of zealot schmucks to defend him or his reputation till the last breath in their bodies - or preferably somebody else's.

  Clive Barker

  Past, Thinking, Tyrants

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• Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others define you. Don't let advertisers mold you; don't let zealots ensnare you; don't let conventional wisdom trap you....you are part of a much larger whole.

  Denis Hayes

  Jobs, Car, Casting

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• I have done no wrong but the zealots are trying to attack me because I am so critical of them.

  Sunil Gangopadhyaya

  Trying, Done, Critical

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• Fear and anxiety were exploited by zealots and fools.

  David Addington

  Anxiety, Fool

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• To disarm a zealot, teach him truth by precept, and mildness by example.

  Al-Kindi

  Example, Mildness, Teach

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• Left-wing zealots have often been prepared to ride roughshod over due process and basic considerations of fairness when they think they can get away with it. For them the ends always seems to justify the means. That is precisely how their predecessors came to create the gulag.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Mean, Thinking, Wings

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• To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble aim is that of the zealot who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he succeeded, would end up a complete monster!

  Denis Diderot

  Love, Passion, Order

  Denis Diderot (1966). “Selected Writings”, New York : Macmillan

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• Zealots: Wild eyed persons afflicted with incurable certainty about the workings of the world, a certainty that can lead to violence when the world doesn't fit.

  Jonathan Stroud

  World, Violence, Fit

  Jonathan Stroud (2010). “The Ring of Solomon”, p.239, Random House

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• We humans are naturally disposed to worship gods and heroes, to build our pantheons and valhallas. I would rather see that impulse directed into the adoration of daft singers, thicko footballers and air-headed screen actors than into the veneration of dogmatic zealots, fanatical preachers, militant politicians and rabid cultural commentators.

  Stephen Fry

  Hero, Air, Valhalla

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• I wouldn't consider myself a Buddhist or a card-carrying zealot at all. My first commitment is as a scientist to uncover the truth about all this.

  Richard Davidson

  Buddhist, Commitment, Cards

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• Had today's technophobic zealots [environmental activists] been in charge in previous centuries, we would have to roll human progress back to the Middle Ages - and beyond, since even fire, the wheel and organic farming pose risks, and none would have passed the "absolute safety" test the zealots demand. Putting them in charge now would mean an end to progress, and perpetual deprivation for inhabitants of developing nations.

  Paul Driessen

  Mean, Fire, Safety

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• A State infinitely worse than that which the most inflamed Zealot, the most violent Republican or Enthusiast even pretended to dread before the Rebellion commenced.

  Charles Inglis

  Fear, Republican, Rebellion

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• That man is thought a dangerous knave, Or zealot plotting crime, Who for advancement of his kind Is wiser than his time.

  Douglas William Jerrold

  Men, Knaves, Reputation

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• True zeal is connected with a holy life. It is remarkable how often the greatest zealots for God, the Church, and sound doctrine (as they regard it), have been unholy and even immoral in their lives.

  Charles Hodge

  Church, Sound Doctrine, Holy

  Charles Hodge (2004). “Conference Papers”, p.284, Wipf and Stock Publishers

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• For forms of faith let graceless zealots fight; his can't be wrong whose life is in the right.

  Alexander Pope

  Fighting, Life Is, Form

  Alexander Pope (1751). “The works of Alexander Pope. With his last corrections, additions, and improvements. Publ. by mr. Warburton. With occasional notes”, p.67

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• Having lost faith in all else, zealots have nothing left but a holy cause to please a warrior God. They win if we become holy warriors, too; if we kill the innocent as they do; strike first at those who had not struck us; allow our leaders to use the fear of terrorism to make us afraid of the truth; cease to think and reason together, allowing others to tell what's in God's mind.

  Bill Moyers

  Warrior, Winning, Thinking

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