edonfire's submitted quotes
The present system means joyless drudgery, semi- starvation, rags and premature death; and they vote for it and uphold it. Let them have what they vote for! Let them drudge and let them starve!
I say that [if] you never take the trouble to find out which side is right or wrong you have no right to express an opinion. You are not fit to vote. You should not be allowed to vote.
Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labour; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.
A desire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being, whose mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge.
Often when he looked at the multidude of wares exposed for sale, [Socrates] would say to himself, "How many things I can do without!"
There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.
Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling, and spending their lives like serfs.
I should not obtrude my affairs so much on the notice of my readers if very particular inquiries had not been made by my townsmen concerning my mode of life.