Keiji Nishitani (1900–1990) Japanese philosopher
Source: The Self-Overcoming of Nihilism (1990), p. 187
Il faut se défaire de la partialité du moi individuel et passionné pour se hausser à l’universalité du moi rationnel.
La Philosophie comme manière de vivre (2001)
Keiji Nishitani (1900–1990) Japanese philosopher
Source: The Self-Overcoming of Nihilism (1990), p. 187
Zisi (-481–-402 BC) Chinese philosopher
Variant translation: "Before joy, anger, sadness and happiness are expressed, they are called the inner self; when they are expressed to the proper degree, they are called harmony. The inner self is the correct foundation of the world, and harmony is the illustrious Way. When a man has achieved the inner self and harmony, the heaven and earth are orderly and the myriad things are nourished and grow thereby."
As translated by Lin Yutang in The Importance of Living (1937), pp. 143–144
Source: The Doctrine of the Mean, p. 104
Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British historian, author of A Study of History
The Toynbee-Ikeda Dialogue: Man Himself Must Choose (1976).
Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during British-ruled India
Young India (8 April 1926)
1920s
Richard Leakey (1944) Kenyan paleoanthropologist, conservationist, and politician
The Origin of Humankind (1994)
Robert A. Heinlein book The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966)
Context: A rational anarchist believes that concepts, such as "state" and "society" and "government" have no existence save as physically exemplified in the acts of self-responsible individuals. He believes that it is impossible to shift blame, share blame, distribute blame... as blame, guilt, responsibility are matters taking place inside human beings singly and nowhere else. But being rational, he knows that not all individuals hold his evaluations, so he tries to live perfectly in an imperfect world... aware that his efforts will be less than perfect yet undismayed by self-knowledge of self-failure.
“Now one will inevitably raise the question: How then do we conquer self-centeredness?”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement
1950s, Conquering Self-centeredness (1957)
Context: Now one will inevitably raise the question: How then do we conquer self-centeredness? How do we get away from this thing that we call self-centeredness? How can we live in this universe with a balance and with a type of perspective that keeps us going smoothly and we are not too absorbed in self? How do we do it?
“Self-consciousness is not knowledge but a story one tells about oneself.”
Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986) French writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, political activist, feminist, and social theorist