
“I am discounting reports of UFOs. Why would they appear only to cranks and weirdos?”
As quoted in a TED talk, " Asking Big Questions about the Universe http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/242"
Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say (2000)
“I am discounting reports of UFOs. Why would they appear only to cranks and weirdos?”
As quoted in a TED talk, " Asking Big Questions about the Universe http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/242"
In London Calling http://books.google.pt/books?id=l80fAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Men+tend+to+have+the+beliefs+that+suit+their+passions.%22&dq=%22Men+tend+to+have+the+beliefs+that+suit+their+passions.%22&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ei=q9mEUcj-AoqM7AbW3IGoBQ&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBw (1947), p. 18
1940s
“But I would not believe in the Gospel, had not the authority of the Catholic Church already moved me.”
Ego vero Evangelio non crederem, nisi me catholicae Ecclesiae commoveret auctoritas.
Contra epistolam Manichaei
Conclusion : The Moral of this Examination
A Perplexed Philosopher (1892)
Context: It is not merely the authority of Mr. Spencer as a teacher on social subjects that I would discredit; but the blind reliance upon authority. For on such subjects the masses of men cannot safely trust authority. Given a wrong which affects the distribution of wealth and differentiates society into the rich and the poor, and the recognized organs of opinion and education, since they are dominated by the wealthy class, must necessarily represent the views and wishes of those who profit or imagine they profit by the wrong.
That thought on social questions is so confused and perplexed, that the aspirations of great bodies of men, deeply though vaguely conscious of injustice, are in all civilized countries being diverted to futile and dangerous remedies, is largely due to the fact that those who assume and are credited with superior knowledge of social and economic laws have devoted their powers, not to showing where the injustice lies but to hiding it; not to clearing common thought but to confusing it.
“To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so, is something worse.”
Letter to William Eustis http://books.google.com/books?id=S088AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA319 (22 June 1809), published in Writings of John Quincy, Adams (1914), The Macmillan company.
Variant: All men profess honesty as long as they can. To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse.
“Do not fear being ridiculous in relation to the ridiculous.”
Diary of an Unknown (1988)
“Fear makes men believe the worst.”
Ad deteriora credenda proni metu.
IV, 3, 22.
Historiarum Alexandri Magni Macedonis Libri Qui Supersunt, Book IV
“If punishment followed instantly upon sin, men would act justly from fear and have no virtue.”
XIX. Why sinners are not punished at once.
On the Gods and the Cosmos
Context: It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who endure for ever to attain everything in a short time: and also, there is need of human virtue. If punishment followed instantly upon sin, men would act justly from fear and have no virtue.
“Would you believe in what you believe in if you were the only one who believed it?”
Source: p.19 Thank You and You're Welcome (2009)