The Architecture of Theories (1891)
Context: The law of habit exhibits a striking contrast to all physical laws in the character of its commands. A physical law is absolute. What it requires is an exact relation. Thus, a physical force introduces into a motion a component motion to be combined with the rest by the parallelogram of forces; but the component motion must actually take place exactly as required by the law of force. On the other hand, no exact conformity is required by the mental law. Nay, exact conformity would be in downright conflict with the law; since it would instantly crystallise thought and prevent all further formation of habit. The law of mind only makes a given feeling more likely to arise. It thus resembles the "non-conservative" forces of physics, such as viscosity and the like, which are due to statistical uniformities in the chance encounters of trillions of molecules.
“Metaphysical problems about "mind" versus "matter" arise only from epistemological confusions.”
Raymond Smullyan (1919–2017) American mathematician
An Epistemological Nightmare (1982) http://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/epistemologicalNightmare.html
Kevin Kelly (1952) American author and editor
Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems and the Economic World (1995), New Rules for the New Economy: 10 Radical Strategies for a Connected World (1999)
Robertson Davies (1913–1995) Canadian journalist, playwright, professor, critic, and novelist
Introduction to Fortune, My Foe and Eros at Breakfast (c. 1993).
Context: The truth is that art does not teach; it makes you feel, and any teaching that may arise from the feeling is an extra, and must not be stressed too much. In the modern world, and in Canada as much as anywhere, we are obsessed with the notion that to think is the highest achievement of mankind, but we neglect the fact that thought untouched by feeling is thin, delusive, treacherous stuff.
Konrad Lorenz book On Aggression
Source: On Aggression (1963), Ch. XII : On the Virtue of Scientific Humility
“Injustice often arises also through chicanery, that is, through an over-subtle and even fraudulent construction of the law. This it is that gave rise to the now familiar saw, "More law, less justice."”
Existunt etiam saepe iniuriae calumnia quadam et nimis callida sed malitiosa iuris interpretatione. Ex quo illud "summum ius summa iniuria" factum est iam tritum sermone proverbium.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (-106–-43 BC) Roman philosopher and statesman
Book I, section 33; translation by Walter Miller.
De Officiis – On Duties (44 BC)
Joyce Meyer (1943) American author and speaker
Source: Approval Addiction: Overcoming Your Need to Please Everyone
James Martineau (1805–1900) English religious philosopher
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 602.
