“Our triumphs seem hollow unless we have friends to share them, and our failures are made bearable by their understanding.”
The Elements of Moral Philosophy (1999), p. 183
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James Rachels6
American philosopher 1941–2003Related quotes
Theodore Roszak (1933–2011) American social historian, social critic, writer
Quoted in The Aquarian Conspiracy, by Marilyn Ferguson, (1980)
Alain de Botton book The Consolations of Philosophy
Source: The Consolations of Philosophy (2000), Chapter II, Consolation For Not having Enough Money, p. 57
Alex Salmond (1954) Scottish National Party politician and former First Minister of Scotland
St Andrew's Day (November 30, 2007)
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America
1962, Rice University speech
Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) Christian apologist, novelist, and Medievalist
Equality (1943)
Context: Every intrusion of the spirit that says, "I'm as good as you" into our personal and spiritual life is to be resisted just as jealously as every intrusion of bureaucracy or privilege into our politics. Hierarchy within can alone preserve egalitarianism without. Romantic attacks on democracy will come again. We shall never be safe unless we already understand in our hearts all that the anti-democrats can say, and have provided for it better than they. Human nature will not permanently endure flat equality if it is extended from its proper political field into the more real, more concrete fields within. Let us wear equality; but let us undress every night.
Erich Maria Remarque book All Quiet on the Western Front
Paul after visiting Russian prisoners, Ch. 8
All Quiet on the Western Front (1929)
Alain de Botton book The Consolations of Philosophy
Source: The Consolations of Philosophy (2000), Chapter VI, Consolation For Difficulties, p. 228.
Context: To cut out every negative root would simultaneously mean choking off positive elements that might arise from it further up the stem of the plant.
We should not feel embarrassed by our difficulties, only by our failure to grow anything beautiful from them.