Quotes About Philosophy

But for anything deeper, I am not certain whether to know the world and to know human nature be not two distinct branches of knowledge, which while they may coexist in the same heart, yet either may exist with little or nothing of the other.

Wherein, he resembled my Right Reverend friend, Bishop Berkeley - truly, one of your lords spiritual - who, metaphysically speaking, holding all objects to be mere optical delusions, was, notwithstanding, extremely matter-of-fact in all matters touching matter itself. Besides being pervious to the points of pins, and possessing a palate capable of appreciating plum-puddings: - which sentence reads off like a pattering of hailstones.

if he is going to live for ever, what good will it do to pitch him overboard—tell me that?" "Give him a good ducking, anyhow.

remains a part of the universal problem of all things.

if your caravan happen to be supplied with a metaphysical professor. Yes, as every one knows, meditation and water are wedded for ever.

Y si uno es un filósofo, aunque esté sentado en una lancha ballenera no sentirá un ápice más de terror que sentado ante el fuego del anochecer, con un atizador y no un arpón al lado.

Podéis captar la expresión de ese cachalote, allí? Es la misma con que murió, sólo que algunas de las más largas arrugas de la frente ahora se diría que se han borrado. Me parece que esta ancha frente está llena de una placidez de dehesa, nacida de una indiferencia filosófica hacia la muerte.

What things real are there, but imponderable thoughts?

Methinks we have hugely mistaken this matter of Life and Death. Methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is my true substance. Methinks that in looking at things spiritual, we are too much like oysters observing the sun through the water, and thinking that thick water the thinnest of air. Methinks my body is but the lees of my better being. In fact take my body who will, take it I say, it is not me.

Como si el hombre, cuanto más tiempo vinculado a la vida, menos quisiera tener que ver con nada que se parezca a la muerte.

Dudas de todas las cosas terrenales e intuiciones de algunas cosas celestiales: esta combinación no produce ni un creyente ni un incrédulo, sino que produce un hombre que las considera a ambas con iguales ojos.

Hay una sabiduría que es dolor; pero hay un dolor que es locura.

This Right Whale I take to have been a Stoic; the Sperm Whale, A Platonian, who might have taken up Spinoza in his latter years.

But, perhaps, to be true philosophers, we mortals should not be conscious of so living or so striving. So soon as I hear that such or such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, I conclude that, like the dyspeptic old woman, he must have broken his digester.

How many, think ye, have likewise fallen into Plato's honey head, and sweetly perished there?

Es realmente maravillosa la cortés premura con que el hombre recibe dinero, si se considera que creemos en serio que el dinero es la raíz de todos los males terrenales.

The transition is a keen one, I assure you, from a schoolmaster to a sailor, and requires a strong decoction of Seneca and the Stoics to enable you to grin and bear it. But even this wears off in time. What

Me parece que hemos confundido mucho esta cuestión de la Vida y la Muerte. Me parece que lo que llaman mi sombra aquí en la tierra es mi substancia auténtica. Me parece que, al mirar las cosas espirituales, somo demasiado como ostras que observan el sol a través del agua y piensan que la densa agua es la mas fina de las atmosferas.

No man can ever feel his own identity aright excepr his eyes be closed; as if darkness were indeed the proper element of our essence, though light be more congenial to our clayey part.

post-mortemizing of

Porque ningún hombre puede sentir bien su propia identidad si no es con los ojos cerrados; como si la tiniebla fuera efectivamente el elemento adecuado de nuestras esencias, aunque la luz sea mas afín a nuestra parte arcillosa.

As before, the Pequod steeply leaned over towards the sperm whale's head, now, by the counterpoise of both heads, she regained her even keel; though sorely strained, you may well believe. So, when on one side you hoist in Locke's head, you go over that way; but now, on the other side, hoist in Kant's and you come back again; but in very poor plight. Thus, some minds for ever keep trimming boat. Oh, ye foolish! throw all these thunder-heads overboard, and then you will float light and right.

It] recquires a strong decoction of Seneca and the Stoics to enable you to grin and bear it.

Only one sweeter end can readily be recalled—the delicious death of an Ohio honey-hunter, who seeking honey in the crotch of a hollow tree, found such exceeding store of it, that leaning too far over, it sucked him in, so that he died embalmed. How many, think ye, have likewise fallen into Plato's honey head, and sweetly perished there?