
“Is sincerity a virtue by itself? A serial killer has also acted sincerely.”
Oluşmak (To Become) Aphorisms (Pan Publishing House, Istanbul, 2011)
Source: The Arrogance of Power (1966), p. 4
“Is sincerity a virtue by itself? A serial killer has also acted sincerely.”
Oluşmak (To Become) Aphorisms (Pan Publishing House, Istanbul, 2011)
“Absolute power by virtue of its very nature withdraws itself from all specification.”
Vol. 4, Part 2. Translated by W.P. Dickson
The History of Rome - Volume 4: Part 2
“Power can be taken, but not given. The process of the taking is empowerment in itself.”
1940s, Science and Religion (1941)
Context: Nobody, certainly, will deny that the idea of the existence of an omnipotent, just, and omnibeneficent personal God is able to accord man solace, help, and guidance; also, by virtue of its simplicity it is accessible to the most undeveloped mind. But, on the other hand, there are decisive weaknesses attached to this idea in itself, which have been painfully felt since the beginning of history. That is, if this being is omnipotent, then every occurrence, including every human action, every human thought, and every human feeling and aspiration is also His work; how is it possible to think of holding men responsible for their deeds and thoughts before such an almighty Being? In giving out punishment and rewards He would to a certain extent be passing judgment on Himself. How can this be combined with the goodness and righteousness ascribed to Him?
The main source of the present-day conflicts between the spheres of religion and of science lies in this concept of a personal God.
Song for St. Cecilia's Day (1692).
Context: When time itself shall be no more,
And all things in confusion hurl'd,
Music shall then exert it's power,
And sound survive the ruins of the world:
Then saints and angels shall agree
In one eternal jubilee:
All Heaven shall echo with their hymns divine,
And God himself with pleasure see
The whole creation in a chorus join.
The Functions of Criticism at the Present Time (1864)
“Evil is mostly confusion seeking to evolve itself into love.”
(Fulton Street/The Series, p. 80).
Book Sources, ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love (2008)
“A New York divorce is in itself a diploma of virtue.”
"The Other Two," ch. 1, from The Descent of Man and Other Stories http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext03/tdmos10.txt (1904)