Quotes About Philosophy

A lack of the historical sense is the hereditary fault of all philosophers.

It is not conflict of opinions that has made history so violent but conflict of belief in opinions, that is to say conflict of convictions.

The myth that the founding of American Republic was based on the philosophy of John Locke could only have been maintained, because the history of Leibniz's influence was suppressed.

The course of history as a whole is no object of experience; history has no eidos, because the course of history extends into the unknown future.

Drinking wine and wearing trousers were nothing compared to reading the history of ideas.

Ideals are peaceful. History is violent.

...one may say anything about the history of the world - anything that might enter the most disordered imagination. The only thing one can't say is that it's rational.

Honestly, I didn't have the patience for biology or history in an academic sense, but I always liked the kind of big questions.

Leo Strauss's discoveries in the history of political philosophy had the effect of liberating his students from the yoke of contemporary thought.

And History will smile to think that this is the species for which Socrates and Jesus Christ died.

To think historically is almost the same thing now as if in all ages history had been made according to theory.

I have always been - I think any student of history almost inevitably is - a cheerful pessimist.

Our search for certainty rests in our attempts at understanding the history of all individual selves and all civilizations. Beyond that, there is only awe.

Philosophy is tested and characterised by the way in which it appropriates its history.

I'm interested in the history of ideas and how these ideas take on flesh and influence culture, and the church.

Do not boast because you have beliefs; don't forget that hundreds of absurd beliefs in the history are totally disappeared!

I sometimes lie awake at night and try to imagine what would be the best period in history to spend one's seventy-odd years.

The historian looks backward. In the end he also believes backward.

History is philosophy learned from examples.

Human history is in essence a history of ideas.

The wise man belongs to all countries, for the home of a great soul is the whole world.

Contemplation and wisdom are highest achievements and man is not totally at home with them.

I didn't have any interest in doing rich people's homes. I still don't.

When you are philosophizing you have to descend into primeval chaos and feel at home there.