Lectures on Russian Literature (1982)
“Clichés, stock phrases, adherence to conventional, standardized codes of expression and conduct have the socially recognized function of protecting us against reality.”
—
Hannah Arendt
,
book
The Life of the Mind
Source: The Life of the Mind (1971/1978), p. 4.
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Hannah Arendt 85
Jewish-American political theorist 1906–1975Related quotes
Source: Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963), Ch. III.
Colin Cherry
(1914–1979) British scientist
Source: On Human Communication (1957), Language: Science and Aesthetics, p.69
“The US wants only 51 per cent adherence as against 100 per cent adherence demanded by Russia.”
Subramanian Swamy
(1939) Indian politician
Supporting India's alliance with the US, as quoted in "US A Better Ally For India: Subramanian Swamy" http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/dec/29us.htm, Rediff (29 December 1999)
1999-2010
Barack Obama
(1961) 44th President of the United States of America
2009, Nobel Prize acceptance speech (December 2009)
Context: I believe that all nations — strong and weak alike — must adhere to standards that govern the use of force. I — like any head of state — reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation. Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards, international standards, strengthens those who do, and isolates and weakens those who don't.
“The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.”
John Kenneth Galbraith
(1908–2006) American economist and diplomat
“All beliefs are reality tunnels, to use Anton Wilson’s phrase.”
Alan Moore
(1953) English writer primarily known for his work in comic books
De Abaitua interview (1998)
Context: The traditional definition of magic – and I think this comes from Crowley who laid down a lot of the ground rules – he defined magic as bringing about change in accordance with the will. I’m not sure about that. It’s certainly part of it, but to bring about change in the universe in accordance with your will seems to me to be misunderstanding the relationship between the individual and the universe. In my relationship with the universe, I do tend to see myself as very much the Junior Partner. I don’t want to impose my will on the universe, I’d rather the universe imposed its will on me. I would rather that what I wanted was more in tune with what the universe wanted. So my definition of magic is a bit less invasive and intrusive. … It’s more exploratory with me. I see magic as a vantage point from which one can look down on the rest of consciousness. It’s a point outside normal consciousness from which you can look at normal consciousness, it’s a point outside beliefs from which you can look at beliefs. All beliefs are reality tunnels, to use Anton Wilson’s phrase. There is the Communist reality tunnel, the Feminist reality tunnel, all of which seem to be the whole of reality when you are in the middle of them. The whole universe is based on Marxist theory if you’re an intent Marxist. Magic is having a plan of all the tunnels, and seeing the overall condition in which they all work. Being aware of different possibilities.
Jonah Goldberg
(1969) American political writer and pundit
2010s, 2014, What is Social Justice (2014)
“Reality is a cliché from which we escape by metaphor.”
Wallace Stevens
(1879–1955) American poet
Source: The Necessary Angel: Essays on Reality and the Imagination