Quotes about man
page 37

Voltaire photo

“This new patriarch Fox said one day to a justice of peace, before a large assembly of people. "Friend, take care what thou dost; God will soon punish thee for persecuting his saints." This magistrate, being one who besotted himself every day with bad beer and brandy, died of apoplexy two days after; just as he had signed a mittimus for imprisoning some Quakers. The sudden death of this justice was not ascribed to his intemperance; but was universally looked upon as the effect of the holy man's predictions; so that this accident made more Quakers than a thousand sermons and as many shaking fits would have done. Cromwell, finding them increase daily, was willing to bring them over to his party, and for that purpose tried bribery; however, he found them incorruptible, which made him one day declare that this was the only religion he had ever met with that could resist the charms of gold.
The Quakers suffered several persecutions under Charles II; not upon a religious account, but for refusing to pay the tithes, for "theeing" and "thouing" the magistrates, and for refusing to take the oaths enacted by the laws.
At length Robert Barclay, a native of Scotland, presented to the king, in 1675, his "Apology for the Quakers"; a work as well drawn up as the subject could possibly admit. The dedication to Charles II, instead of being filled with mean, flattering encomiums, abounds with bold truths and the wisest counsels. "Thou hast tasted," says he to the king, at the close of his "Epistle Dedicatory," "of prosperity and adversity: thou hast been driven out of the country over which thou now reignest, and from the throne on which thou sittest: thou hast groaned beneath the yoke of oppression; therefore hast thou reason to know how hateful the oppressor is both to God and man. If, after all these warnings and advertisements, thou dost not turn unto the Lord, with all thy heart; but forget Him who remembered thee in thy distress, and give thyself up to follow lust and vanity, surely great will be thy guilt, and bitter thy condemnation. Instead of listening to the flatterers about thee, hearken only to the voice that is within thee, which never flatters. I am thy faithful friend and servant, Robert Barclay."”

Voltaire (1694–1778) French writer, historian, and philosopher

The most surprising circumstance is that this letter, though written by an obscure person, was so happy in its effect as to put a stop to the persecution.
The History of the Quakers (1762)

Robert Browning photo
C.G. Jung photo

“The conscious side of woman corresponds to the emotional side of man, not to his "mind."”

Mind makes up the soul, or better, the "animus" of woman, and just as the anima of a man consists of inferior relatedness, full of affect, so the animus of woman consists of inferior judgments, or better, opinions.
The Secret of the Golden Flower (1931) Commentary by C.G.Jung in CW 13: Alchemical Studies. P. 60

Joseph Goebbels photo

“Work is not mankind’s curse, but his blessing. A man becomes a man through labor. It elevates him, makes him great and aware, raises him above all other creatures.”

Joseph Goebbels (1897–1945) Nazi politician and Propaganda Minister

Source: 1930s, Die verfluchten Hakenkreuzler. Etwas zum Nachdenken (1932)

Thomas Paine photo
Stanisław Lem photo

“The myth of childhood has an even greater parallel in the myth of Femininity. Both women and children were considered asexual and thus"purer" than man. Their inferior status was ill-concealed under an elaborate "respect."”

One didn't discuss serious matters nor did one curse in from of women and children; one didn't openly degrade them, one did it behind their backs.

Chapter Four
The Dialectic of Sex (1970)

Catherine of Genoa photo
Umar photo

“I advise you to fear Allah alone, with no partner of associate. I advise you to treat the first Muhâjireen well and acknowledge their seniority. I advise you to treat the Ansār well, and show approval of those among them who do well, and forgive those among them who make mistakes. I advise you to treat the people of the outlying regions well, for they are a shield against the enemy and conduits of fay; do not take anything from them except that which is surplus to their needs. I advise you to treat the people of the desert well, for they are the original Arabs and the protectors of Islam. Take from the surplus of their wealth and give it to their poor. I advise you to treat ahl adh-dhīmmah well, to defend them against their enemies and not burden them with more than they can bear if they fulfill their duties towards the believers or pay the Jizyāh with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. I advise you to fear Allah and fear His wrath, lest you do anything wrong. I advise you to fear Allah with regard to the people, but do not fear the people with regard to Allah. I advise you to treat the people justly, and to devote yourself to looking after them and protecting them against their enemies. Do not show any favour to the rich over the poor. That will be better for your spiritual well being and will help to reduce your burden of sin, and it will be better for your Hereafter, until you meet the One Who knows what is in your heart. I instruct you to be strict with regard to the commands of Allah, His sacred limits and disobedience with all people, both relatives and others. Do not show any mercy to anyone until you have settled the score with him according to his offence. Treat all people as equal, and do not worry about who is as fault or fear the blame of the blamers. Beware of showing favouritism among the believers with regard to the fay that Allah has put you in charge of, lest that lead to injustice. Keep away from that. You are in a position between this world and the Hereafter. If you conduct your affairs justly in this world and refrain from indulgence, that will earn you faith and divine pleasure. I advise you not to let yourself or anyone else do wrong to ahl al-dhimmah. I advise you sincerely to seek thereby the Countenance of Allah and the Hereafter. I have chosen advice for you that I would offer to myself or my son. If you do as I have advised you and follow my instructions, you will have gained a great deal. If you don not accept it or pay attention to it, and do not handle your affairs in the way that pleases Allah, that will be a shortcoming on your part and you will have failed to be sincere, because whims and desires are the same and the cause of sin is Iblīs, who calls man to everything that will lead to his doom. He misguided the generations who came before you and led them to Hell, what a terrible abode. What a bad deal it is for a man to take the enemy of Allah as his friend, who calls him to disobey Allah. Adhere to the truth, strive hard to reach it and admonish yourself. I urge you by Allah to show mercy to the Muslims, honour their elderly, show compassion to their young ones and respect the knowledgeable ones among them. Do not harm them or humiliate them, and do not keep the fay for yourself lest you anger them. Do not deprive them of their stipends when they become due, thus making them poor. Do not keep them away on campaigns for so long that they end up having no children. Do not allow wealth to circulate only among the rich. Do not close your door to the people or allow the strong to oppress the weak. This is my advice to you, as Allah is my witness, and I greet you with peace.”

Umar (585–644) Second Caliph of Rashidun Caliphate and a companion of Muhammad

Umar ibn al-Khattab, Vol. 2, p. 389-390, also quoted in At-Tabqaat ul-Kabir, Vol. 3, p. 339
Last Advise

Norman Schwarzkopf photo
Marquis de Sade photo
Marquis de Sade photo
Eckhart Tolle photo
Larry Niven photo

“The stars are far from eternal, but for man they might as well be.”

Section 1, Phssthpok, Chapter 1 (p. 7)
Protector (1973)

Francisco Palau photo

“God's great work in man takes place in the Interior. The order that appears and is shown outside is the work and effect of the order inside.”

Francisco Palau (1811–1872) Beatified Spanish Discalced Carmelite friar and priest

Letter to Juana Gratia (1857)

Bobby Sands photo

“In the gutters lies the black man, dead,
And where oil flows blackest, the streets run red,
And there was He who was born and came to be,
Who lived and died without liberty”

Bobby Sands (1954–1981) Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army

"Modern Times"
Poetry, Miscellaneous poems

Jackson Browne photo
Socrates photo

“Did you suppose that so noble a man must be born of two Athenians?”

Socrates (-470–-399 BC) classical Greek Athenian philosopher

Diogenes Laertius

Socrates photo
Socrates photo

“The man who eats with the greatest appetite has the least need of delicacies.”

Socrates (-470–-399 BC) classical Greek Athenian philosopher

Diogenes Laertius

Socrates photo

“O Hercules! what a number of lies the young man has told about me.”

Socrates (-470–-399 BC) classical Greek Athenian philosopher

Diogenes Laertius

Richard Wagner photo

“To my horror I always find only myself in all that I create; the Other, whom I need, I never find: a free man himself must create himself; I can only create slaves!”

Richard Wagner (1813–1883) German composer, conductor

Original: (de) "Zum Ekel find' ich ewig nur mich in Allem was ich erwirke; das And're, das ich ersehne, das And're erseh' ich nie: denn selbst muß der Freie sich schaffen; Knechte erknet' ich mir nur."
Source: Quotes from his operas, Die Walküre, Wotan, Act 2, Scene 2

Ibn Hazm photo
Wilhelm Von Humboldt photo
Michael Jackson photo
Karl Marx photo
Karl Marx photo
Karl Marx photo
Karl Marx photo
Benjamin Disraeli photo

“What is the question now placed before society with the glib assurance the most astounding? That question is this—Is man an ape or an angel? My lord, I am on the side of the angels.”

Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) British Conservative politician, writer, aristocrat and Prime Minister

Variant: The question is this— Is man an ape or an angel? My Lord, I am on the side of the angels. I repudiate with indignation and abhorrence these new fanged theories.
Variant: Is man an ape or an angel? Now, I am on the side of the angels!
Source: Speech at Oxford Diocesan Conference (25 November 1864), quoted in William Flavelle Monypenny and George Earle Buckle, The Life of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. Volume II. 1860–1881 (1929), p. 108

Karl Marx photo
Karl Marx photo
Jesus photo

“All which a man loves, for which he leaves everything else but that, is his god, thus the glutton and drunkard has for his idol his own flesh, the fornicator has for his idol the harlot and the greedy has for his idol silver and gold, and so the same for every other sinner.”

Jesus (-7–30 BC) Jewish preacher and religious leader, central figure of Christianity

Source: Gospel of Barnabas (c. 16th century AD manuscript), Ch. 33. The gospel's origins and author have been debated; several theories are speculative, and none has general acceptance. The Gospel of Barnabas is dated to the 13th to 15th centuries,[2] much too late to have been written by Barnabas (fl. 1st century CE). Many of its teachings are synchronous with those in the Quran and oppose the Bible, especially the New Testament; some, however, contradict the Quran.

John Lennon photo

“Don't believe that jazz about there's nothing you can do, "turn on and drop out, man"”

John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter

because you've got to turn on and drop in, or they're going to drop all over you.
Source: The Beatles Anthology (2000), p. 263

Tupac Shakur photo

“What I want you to take seriously, is what we have to do for the youth. Because we're coming up in a totally different world. This is not the same world that you had this is not 6th Street its not. You grew up, we grew up B. C. Before crack. That's just saying it all. You understand? We did not grow up without parents. You had parents that told you this and that and told you what went on back in the day. You have young kids, fourteen, coming home and their mama is smoking out, going to their best friend to get the product. You understand what I'm saying? So that means it's not just about you taking care of "your" child. It's about you taking care of "these children". It hurts that I got to, it bothers me, not hurts, that I have to sidestep my youth to stand up and do some shit that somebody else is suppose to be doing. You understand what I'm saying? There's too many men out here for me to be doing this, because it ain't my turn yet. I'm supposed to be following behind him getting the knowledge. I don't even got a chance to get the fucking knowledge. I can't go to college. There's too much problems out here. I don't got the money. Nobody does. You understand what I'm saying? So what I'm saying is, it's not as easy as we're mapping it out to be. We've got to stay real. Before we can be new African we've gotta be black first. You understand? We've gotta get our brothers from the streets like Harriett Tubman did. Why can't we look at that and see exactly what she was doing? Like Malcolm did, the real Malcolm, before the Nation of Islam. You've got to remember, this was a pimp. You know what I'm saying, we forgot about all that. In our strive to be enlightened we forgot about all our brothers in the street, about all our dope dealers, our pushers and our pimps, and that's who's teaching the new generation, because y'all not doing it. I'm sorry. But, it's the pimps and pushers who's teaching us. So, if you got a problem with how we were raised, its because they was the only ones who could do it. They the only ones who did it, because everybody else wanted to go to college, and you know, yeah everything's changed, they were the ones telling you 'the white man ain't shit, there you go, check this out young blood, you take this product, you switch it, you get money and that's how you beat the white man, you get money, you get the hell up out of here.'”

Tupac Shakur (1971–1996) rapper and actor

Nobody else did that. So I don't wanna hear shit about nobody telling me who I can't love and respect until you start doing what they did. To me, this is Mecca. This is the black family. You know what I'm saying? But, what makes it that much sadder, what makes me wanna cry, is that when I leave this place, so does Mecca. You understand what I'm saying? We're going back to the real deal. Right out there, you're going see the same sisters and Brenda, they're right out there, and y'all are going to get in your cars and drive the fuck home.
1990s, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Atlanta (1992)

Marquis de Sade photo
Marquis de Sade photo
Marquis de Sade photo
Nicolás Gómez Dávila photo
Thomas Mann photo

“I admire the proud and cold who go adventuring on the paths of great and demoniac beauty, and scorn "man"”

but I do not envy them. For if anything is capable of making a poet out of a man of letters, it is this plebeian love of mine for the human, living, and commonplace. All warmth, all goodness, all humor is born of it, and it almost seems to me as if it were that love itself, of which it is written that a man might speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and yet without it be no more than sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
Source: Tonio Kröger (1903), Ch. 9, as translated by Bayard Quincy Morgan

Bette Davis photo

“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.”

Bette Davis (1908–1989) film and television actress from the United States

William Martin, The Best Liberal Quotes Ever: Why the Left is Right, Sourcebooks, Inc., 2004, ISBN 1402203098, p. 204
Attributed

Fyodor Dostoyevsky photo
Diogenes of Sinope photo

“No man is hurt but by himself.”

Diogenes of Sinope (-404–-322 BC) ancient Greek philosopher, one of the founders of the Cynic philosophy
Jeremy Bentham photo

“I am at heart more of a United-States-man than an Englishman.”

Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) British philosopher, jurist, and social reformer

Letter to Andrew Jackson (14 June 1830), quoted in Correspondence of Andrew Jackson, Volume 4, ed. David Maydole Matteson (1929), p. 146

Karl Marx photo
Paulo Coelho photo

“A man who disrespects a woman doesn't deserve one.”

Source: book Aleph

Salvador Dalí photo

“A man without ambition is like a bird without wings”

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) Spanish artist

Source: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/10/14/wings/

Basil of Caesarea photo
Albert Schweitzer photo

“Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him.”

Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French-German physician, theologian, musician and philosopher
Gautama Buddha photo
William Shakespeare photo
Laozi photo

“The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.”

Laozi (-604) semi-legendary Chinese figure, attributed to the 6th century, regarded as the author of the Tao Te Ching and fou…
Thomas Carlyle photo
Chanakya photo

“A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”

Chanakya (-375–-283 BC) Ancient Indian statesman and philosopher
Mark Twain photo

“The only reason why God created man is because he was disappointed with the monkey.”

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American author and humorist

Autobiographical Dictation (1906)

Muhammad al-Taqi photo

“Man's death by sins is more than his death by fate and his life by charity is more than his life by age.”

Muhammad al-Taqi (811–835) ninth of the Twelve Imams of Twelver Shi'ism

[Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi, The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, Wonderful Maxims and Arts, 2005]

Fulton J. Sheen photo

“No man has need of religion who is self-righteous, who is all he wants to be and all he ought to be.”

Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) Catholic bishop and television presenter

Source: The Armor of God (1943), Ch. 1, p. 4

Plato photo

“In a democracy the noble man is condemned to obscurity, prison or death, while scum, liars and degenerates rule.”

David Lane (white nationalist) (1938–2007) American white supremacist, convicted felon

Revolution by Number

Zafar Mirzo photo
Desiderius Erasmus photo

“I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is one of degree. A man who sees a gourd and takes it for his wife is called insane because this happens to very few people.”

Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and theologian

As quoted in Words from the Wise : Over 6,000 of the Smartest Things Ever Said (2007) by Rosemarie Jarski, p. 312. From The Praise of Folly.

Joe Armstrong photo

“The middle man brings conceptual integrity to the system.”

Joe Armstrong (1950–2019) British computer scientist

The How and Why of Fitting Things Together

Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Aurelius Augustinus photo

“To my God a heart of flame; To my fellow man a heart of love; To myself a heart of steel.”

Aurelius Augustinus (354–430) early Christian theologian and philosopher

Attributed to Augustine by many sources on line, but without an actual reference.
Disputed

Karl Marx photo

“The foundation of irreligious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not make man.”

Karl Marx (1818–1883) German philosopher, economist, sociologist, journalist and revolutionary socialist

Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right (1843)

“I always say that a man with one language is like a man with one eye.”

Bernard MacLaverty (1942) Irish writer

Source: Novels, Lamb (1980), Ch.1 - p.8

Isaac of Nineveh photo
Friedrich Schiller photo

“Time is man's angel.”

Act V, sc. xi
Wallenstein (1798), Part II - Wallensteins Tod (The Death of Wallenstein)

Abraham Lincoln photo
Abraham Lincoln photo
Henry Miller photo

“I'm crazy enough to believe that the happiest man on earth is the man with the fewest needs.”

Source: The Colossus of Maroussi (1941) Part 2, p. 133

Eckhart Tolle photo
Martin Luther King, Jr. photo
Edgar Guest photo
Burt Lancaster photo

“I found marriage somewhat stifling. I don't know that I am the kind of man who ought to be married.”

Burt Lancaster (1913–1994) American actor and producer

other quotes

Vera Stanley Alder photo
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien photo
Plato photo
Joseph De Maistre photo

“A woman can only be superior as a woman; as soon as she wants to emulate man, she is nothing but an ape.”

Joseph De Maistre (1753–1821) Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer, and diplomat

Letter to his daughter Constance de Maistre, Lettres, 146
Letters

Joseph De Maistre photo

“There is a great analogy between grace and genius, for genius is a grace. The real man of genius is the one who acts by grace or by impulsion, without ever contemplating himself and without ever saying to himself: Yes! It is by grace that I act.”

Joseph De Maistre (1753–1821) Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer, and diplomat

"Of Experiment and of the Genius of Discoveries," p. 37
An Examination of the Philosophy of Francis Bacon (1836)

Paul Valéry photo

“Modern man no longer works at what cannot be abbreviated.”

Paul Valéry (1871–1945) French poet, essayist, and philosopher

Source: Unsourced

Origen photo
Kanye West photo
Kanye West photo
Kanye West photo