Iain Pears Quotes
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The evil done by men of goodwill is the worst of all ... We have done terrible things, for the best of reasons, and that makes it worse.
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And a more foolish notion can scarcely be imagined, it being obvious that the reader is only informed of what the writer wishes him to know, and is thus seduced into believing almost anything.
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Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.
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The point of civilization is to be civilized; the purpose of action is to perpetuate society, for only in society can philosophy truly take place.
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Diplomacy and virtue do not make easy companions.
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Who you are is less important than what you seem.
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She was looking for something I could never give her." Again his dark eyes bored into Julia's mind. "You have something of the same about you, young woman. Take my advice: Don't think you will find it in another person. You won't. It's not there. You must find it in yourself.
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He who profits by villainy, has perpetrated it.
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Philosophy cannot be extinguished, though men will try ... The spirit seeks the light, that is its nature. It wishes to return to its origin, and must forever try to reach enlightenment.
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For men are held above their fellows by the gossamer of reputation, which is so soft and fragile a breath can blow it away.
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God forbid that I should ever suffer the shame of publishing a book for money, or of having one of my family so demean themselves. How can one tell who might read it? No worthy book has ever been written for gain, I think.
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Every cataclysm is welcomed by somebody; there is always someone to rejoice at disaster and see in it the prospect of a new beginning and a better world.
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For what are we but our past? If that is lost, we become nothing.
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I learned that I' have to be detached if I was ever to achieve anything at all.
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For the first time, she did want more. She did not know what she wanted, knew that it was dangerous and that she should rest content with what she had, but she knew an emptiness deep inside her, which began to ache.
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Virtue comes through contemplation of the divine, and the exercise of philosophy. But it also comes through public service. The one is incomplete without the other. Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.
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He (William Cort) had some desire to be successful, but it did not burn so strongly in him that he was prepared to overcome his character to achieve it.
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Shame, I do believe, is the most powerful emotion known to man; most discoveries and journeys of importance have been accomplished because of the ignominy that would be the result if the attempt was abandoned.
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The simple fact that something has not been done, is no proof that it cannot be.
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The devil himself can become beauty, so we are told, to corrupt mankind." (Marco)