Quotes from Baruch Spinoza

A man is as much affected pleasurably or painfully by the image of a thing past or future as by the image of a thing present.

Those who know the true use of money, and regulate the measure of wealth according to their needs, live contented with few things.

Nothing in nature is by chance... Something appears to be chance only because of our lack of knowledge.

Whatsoever is contrary to nature is contrary to reason, and whatsoever is contrary to reason is absurd.

In the state of nature, wrong-doing is impossible ; or, if anyone does wrong, it is to himself, not to another.

Nature has no goal in view, and final causes are only human imaginings.

The greatest good is the knowledge of the union which the mind has with the whole nature.

Nothing in the universe is contingent, but all things are conditioned to exist and operate in a particular manner by the necessity of the divine nature.

Speculation, like nature, abhors a vacuum.

. . . to know the order of nature, and regard the universe as orderly is the highest function of the mind.

I can control my passions and emotions if I can understand their nature

All is One (Nature, God)

For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

I call him free who is led solely by reason.

I do not presume that I have found the best philosophy, I know that I understand the true philosophy.

Things which are accidentally the causes either of hope or fear are called good or evil omens.

Big fish eat small fish with as much right as they have power.

The mind has greater power over the emotions, and is less subject thereto, insofar as it understands all things to be necessary.

[Believers] are but triflers who, when they cannot explain a thing, run back to the will of God; this is, truly, a ridiculous way of expressing ignorance.

God is not He who is, but That which is.

In regard to intellect and true virtue, every nation is on a par with the rest, and God has not in these respects chosen one people rather than another.

I do not believe anyone has reached such perfection, surpassing all others, except Christ, to whom God immediately revealed - without words or visions - the conditions which lead to salvation.

The more we understand individual things, the more we understand God.

God is a thing that thinks.