John Toland: Man

John Toland was Irish philosopher. Explore interesting quotes on man.
John Toland: 24   quotes 2   likes

“Such is the deplorable condition of our age, that a man dares not openly and directly own what he thinks of divine matters, though it be never so true and beneficial, if it but very slightly differs from what is received by any party, or that is established by law.”

John Toland book Christianity not Mysterious

Christianity not Mysterious (1696), Preface

Age , Law , Thinking

“As for acquiescing in what a man understands not, or cannot reconcile to his reason, they know best the fruits of it that practice it. For my part, I'm a stranger to it, and cannot reconcile myself to such a principle. On the contrary, I am pretty sure he pretends in vain to convince the judgment, who explains not the nature of the thing. A man may give his verbal assent to he knows not what, out of fear, superstition, indifference, interest, and the like feeble and unfair motives: but as long as he conceives not what he believes, he cannot sincerely acquiesce in it, and remains deprived of all solid satisfaction. … But he that comprehends a thing, is as sure of it as if he were himself the author.”

John Toland book Christianity not Mysterious

Christianity not Mysterious (1696), Section II: That the Doctrines of the Gospel are not contrary to Reason, Chapter 1

Fear , Motivation , Understanding , Nature

“The best method, I think, of communicating to others the Truth, is that by which a Man has learnt it himself.”

John Toland book Christianity not Mysterious

Christianity not Mysterious (1696), Preface

Truth , Communication , Thinking