Quotes from Eric Hoffer

The real haves are they who can acquire freedom, self-confidence, and even riches without depriving others of them. They acquire all of these by developing and applying their potentialities. On the other hand, the real have nots are they who cannot have aught except by depriving others of it. They can feel free only by diminishing the freedom of others, self-confident by spreading fear and dependence among others, and rich by making others poor.

The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.

The uncompromising attitude is more indicative of an inner uncertainty than a deep conviction. The implacable stand is directed more against the doubt within than the assailant without.

The wise learn from the experience of others, and the creative know how to make a crumb of experience go a long way.

There can be no freedom without freedom to fail.

There is probably an element of malice in the readiness to overestimate people; we are laying up for ourselves the pleasure of later cutting them down to size.

To grow old is to grow common. Old age equalizes - we are aware that what is happening to us has happened to untold numbers from the beginning of time. When we are young we act as if we were the first young people in the world.

To spell out the obvious is often to call it in question.

We are more ready to try the untried when what we do is inconsequential. Hence the fact that many inventions had their birth as toys.

We can remember minutely and precisely only the things which never really happened to us.

We cannot be sure that we have something to live for unless we are ready to die for it.

We find it hard to apply the knowledge of ourselves to our judgment of others. The fact that we are never of one kind, that we never love without reservations and never hate with all our being cannot prevent us from seeing others as wholly black or white.

Disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy - the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation.

We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.

Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.

People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.

Hatred is the most accessible and comprehensive of all the unifying agents. Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a god, but never without a belief in a devil.

When people are bored, it is primarily with their own selves that they are bored.

You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.

We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities but its own talents.

Anger is the prelude to courage.

Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing.