“Self-preservation is the central aim of all life-activities.”
Boris Sidis (1867–1923) American psychiatrist
Source: Nervous Ills their Cause and Cure (1922), p. 20
"What Is Political Philosophy" in The Journal of Politics, 19(3) (Aug. 1957) by the Southern Political Science Association, p. 343
Context: All political action aims at either preservation or change. When desiring to preserve, we wish to prevent a change for the worse; when desiring to change, we wish to bring about something better. All political action is then guided by some thought of better or worse.
“Self-preservation is the central aim of all life-activities.”
Boris Sidis (1867–1923) American psychiatrist
Source: Nervous Ills their Cause and Cure (1922), p. 20
Anne-Thérèse de Marguenat de Courcelles, marquise de Lambert (1647–1733) writer from France
Source: A Mother's Advice to Her Son, 1726, p. 137
Xi Jinping (1953) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and paramount leader of China
As quoted during Xi’s inspection tour of China Central Television (CCTV) and People’s Daily on 19 February 2016. <br class="br"> "Another View: Communist Party's loyal mouthpieces" http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2016/02/24/another-view-communist-partys-loyal-mouthpieces/ab4kbuk/, Daily Chronicle (Feb. 24, 2016) <br class="br"> "Chinese website publishes, then pulls, explosive letter calling for President Xi’s resignation" https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/16/government-linked-website-published-then-pulled-call-for-president-xis-resignation/, Washington Post (March 16, 2016) <br class="br">2010s
“The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order.”
Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English mathematician and philosopher
1920s, Process and Reality: An Essay in Cosmology (1929)
William Winwood Reade (1838–1875) British historian
Source: The Martyrdom of Man (1872), Chapter I, "War", p. 27.
Lewis Pugh (1969) Environmental campaigner, maritime lawyer and endurance swimmer
p 85, describing his swim at Deception Island (2005)
21 Yaks And A Speedo (2013)
Context: I knew now that I had to stand up and start speaking about protecting our environment. From that moment on, every swim should have the aim of inspiring people to protect and preserve the world’s oceans and all that live in them.
“The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”
Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist