Quotes from Baruch Spinoza

By that which is self-caused , I mean that of which the essence involves existence, or that of which the nature is only conceivable as existent.

Such things as are good simply because they have been commanded or instituted, or as being symbols of something good, are mere shadows which cannot be reckoned among actions that are the offspring, as it were, or fruit of a sound mind and of intellect.

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

By emotion I mean the modifications of the body, whereby the active power of the said body is increased or diminished, aided or constrained, and also the ideas of such modifications.

Les stoïciens ont voulu soutenir que nos passions dépendent entièrement de notre volonté, et que nous pouvons les gouverner avec une autorité sans bornes; mais l'expérience les a contraint d'avouer, en dépit de leurs principes, qu'il ne faut pas peu de soins et d'habitude pour contenir et régler nos passions .

In a state of nature nothing can be said to be just or unjust; this is so only in a civil state, where it is decided by common agreement what belongs to this or that man.

Il est contre le bon sens de mettre une enveloppe précieuse à des choses de néant ou de peu de valeur.

Emotion, which is called a passivity of the soul, is a confused idea, whereby the mind affirms concerning its body, or any part thereof, a force for existence (existendi vis) greater or less than before, and by the presence of which the mind is determined to think of one thing rather than another.

Even more, in the created thing, is a perfection that she exists; since the greatest of all imperfections is, not to exist.

By substance, I mean that which is in itself, and is conceived through itself: in

aquele que quer responder às injúrias com o ódio vive na tristeza ou na mágoa, aquele que quer vencer o ódio com o amor combate alegremente e sem temor. Triunfa tanto sobre um grande número de inimigos quanto sobre um único, prescindindo de todo socorro da fortuna. Aqueles a quem ele consegue vencer ficam alegres por terem sido derrotados; e, derrotados, eles não são menos fortes; ao contrário, são mais fortes.

Este esfuerzo por conseguir que cada cual apruebe aquello que uno ama u odia es, en realidad, ambición; y así vemos que cada cual apetece, por naturaleza, que los demás vivan según la índole propia de él. Pero como todos lo apetecen a la vez, a la vez se estorban unos a otros, y como todos quieren ser alabados y amados por todos, se tienen odio unos a otros.

Scriptural doctrine contains not abstruse speculation or philosophic reasoning, but very simple matters able to be understood by the most sluggish mind.

The body itself, simply from the laws of its own nature, can do many things which its mind wonders at … it is in the mind's power alone both to speak and to be silent and to do many other things which they therefore believe depend on the mind's decision … if, on the other hand, the body is inactive, the mind is at the same time incapable of thinking

For all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.

In so far as we understand, we can desire nothing but that which must be, nor, in an absolute sense, can we find contentment in anything but truth.

These are the prejudices which I undertook to notice here. If any others of a similar character remain, they can easily be rectified with a little thought by anyone.

No creo que cuestionar las cosas sea una enfermedad. La obediencia ciega sin cuestionamientos, es la enfermedad.

A passion seizes to be a passion as soon as we form a clear idea of it.

The] right of the individual is co-extensive with its determinate power. ... Nature's bounds are not set by the laws of human reason which aim only at man's true interest and his preservation ... man is but a particle.

El alma humana, cuantas veces percibe las cosas según el orden común de la naturaleza, no tiene conocimiento adecuado ni de sí misma, ni de su cuerpo, ni de los cuerpos exteriores, sino tan solo un conocimiento confuso y mutilado

I have laboured carefully, not to mock, lament, or execrate, but to understand human actions.

Fear breeds superstition.

Nu râde, nu jeli, nu urî, ci în?elege!