Quotes About Thought

Man, Aristotle held, must first grasp the appropriate facts of reality; on this basis, he can then set the goals and course of his action. Pragmatism represents a total reversal of this progression. For the pragmatist, the order is: man acts; he invents forms of thought to satisfy the needs of his action; reality adapts itself accordingly (except when, inexplicably, it resists). First, action—second, thought—third, reality.

emotions differ from thought and action: they are an automatic function. But a man does choose his emotions—ultimately. He does it by virtue of his ability to think, and if necessary to rethink an issue, rejecting an invalid idea at the root of some feeling and replacing it by a new conclusion.

The reason-emotion dichotomy, however, cuts off this possibility; by teaching that emotions are independent of thought, it makes permanent the feeling of metaphysical helplessness.

Kant is the first and greatest nihilist in the history of thought. A nihilist is one who works to destroy man's mind and values as an end in itself, for the sake of the destruction.

A German Volkisch ethic educates men to make the People the centre of their thought."' (Professor Ernst Bergmann, a Nazi intellectual)

He who thinks little errs much…

The organ of perception acts more readily than judgment.

Wer wenig denkt, irrt viel.

He who in reasoning cites authority is making use of his memory rather than of his intellect.

It would not go away because it was my thought. It is not death that is terrible, but the knowledge of it: it would be utterly impossible to live if a man could know exactly and definitely the day and hour of his death.

If people would only reason a little more they would be convinced that life is not worth taking such a deal of trouble about.

Wie kann ein Mann ein Ding lieben, das, ihm zum Trotze, auch denken will? Ein Frauenzimmer, das denket, ist ebenso ekel als ein Mann, der sich schminket. Lachen soll es, nichts als lachen, um immerdar den gestrengen Herrn der Schöpfung bei guter Laune zu halten.

It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards,' says the White Queen to Alice.

People who don't think shouldn't talk.

when she thought it over afterwards it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural

Alice thought to herself, 'Then there's no use in speaking.' The voices didn't join in this time, as she hadn't spoken, but to her great surprise, they all thought in chorus (I hope you understand what thinking in chorus means--for I must confess that I don't), 'Better say nothing at all. Language is worth a thousand pounds a word!

The world is but a Thought, said he: The vast unfathomable sea Is but a Notion—unto me.

It sounds like a horse,' Alice thought to herself. And an extremely small voice, close to her ear, said, 'You might make a joke on that—something about horse and hoarse, you know.

How fond she is of finding morals in things!' Alice thought to herself.

Es un tipo de memoria muy pobre la que solo funciona hacia atrás

This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon its forehead (the position in which you usually see Shakespeare, in the pictures of him)

Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare to laugh; and, as she could not think of anything to say, she simply bowed, and took the thimble, looking as solemn as she could.

either, but thought they were nice grand words to say.) Presently she began again. 'I wonder if I shall fall right through

This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought, and it stood for a long time with one finger pressed upon its forehead (the position in which you usually see Shakespeare, in the pictures of him), while the rest waited in silence.