Baruch Spinoza Quotes

In practical life we are compelled to follow what is most probable ; in speculative thought we are compelled to follow truth.

Of all the things that are beyond my power, I value nothing more highly than to be allowed the honor of entering into bonds of friendship with people who sincerely love truth. For, of things beyond our power, I believe there is nothing in the world which we can love with tranquility except such men.

The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.

I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of the peace.

The more you struggle to live, the less you live. Give up the notion that you must be sure of what you are doing. Instead, surrender to what is real within you, for that alone is sure....you are above everything distressing.

I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.

He alone is free who lives with free consent under the entire guidance of reason

I should attempt to treat human vice and folly geometrically... the passions of hatred, anger, envy, and so on, considered in themselves, follow from the necessity and efficacy of nature... I shall, therefore, treat the nature and strength of the emotion in exactly the same manner, as though I were concerned with lines, planes, and solids.

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

Der Endzweck des Staates ist [...] im Grund die Freiheit.

I call him free who is led solely by reason.

It is the part of a wise man, I say, to refresh and restore himself in moderation with pleasant food and drink, with scents, with the beauty of green plants, with decoration, music, sports, the theater, and other things of this kind, which anyone can use without injury to another.

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