QUOTES
Animal
Rights
"If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of
abstinence is from injury to animals."
Community
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us, "Universe," a part limited
in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something
separated from the rest -- a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This
delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and
to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves
from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures
and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely,
but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and
a foundation for inner security
Creativity
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
The
intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We
have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
"Problems
cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."
Culture
of Peace
"We must inoculate our children against militarism, by educating
them in the spirit of pacifism... Our schoolbooks glorify war and conceal its
horrors. They indoctrinate children with hatred. I would teach peace rather than
war, love rather than hate."
Economy
"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole
educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude
is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success
as a preparation for his future. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate
these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied
by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."
Globalization
One has to realize that the powerful industrial groups concerned in the manufacture
of arms are doing their best in all countries to prevent the peaceful settlement
of international disputes, and that rulers can achieve this great end only if
they are sure of the vigorous support of the majority of their peoples.
Hope
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is
to not stop questioning.
Kindness
"Only
a life lived for others is worth living."
"The
ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage
to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth..."
Law
"A world government with powers adequate to guarantee security is not a remote
ideal for the distant future. It is an urgent necessity if our civilization is
to survive."
"There
is no salvation for civilization, or even the human race, other than the creation
of a world government."
"With
all my heart I believe that the world's present system of sovereign nations can
only lead to barbarism, war and inhumanity, and that only world law can assure
progress towards a civilized peaceful community."
Living
a Life of Compassion
"A hundred times every day I remind myself that
my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and
that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and
am still receiving."
Try
not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.
The
world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those
who look on and do nothing.
"There
are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The
other is as though everything is a miracle."
No
More War
To my mind, to kill in war is not a whit better than to commit
ordinary murder.
My
pacifism is not based on any intellectual theory but on a deep antipathy to every
form of cruelty and hatred.
Nothing
will end war unless the people refuse to go to war.
"I
know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will
be fought with sticks and stones."
Nonviolence
"Violence sometimes
may have cleared away obstructions quickly, but it never has proved itself creative."
No
Nukes
Since I do not forsee that atomic energy is to be a great boon
for a long time, I have to say that for the present it is a menace. Perhaps it
is well that it should be. It may intimidate the human race into bringing order
into its international affairs, which, without the presence of fear, it would
not do.
Through
the release of atomic energy, our generation has brought into the world the most
revolutionary force since prehistoric man's discovery of fire. This basic force
of the universe cannot be fitted into the outmoded concept of narrow nationalisms.
For there is no secret and there is no defense; there is no possibility of control
except through the aroused understanding and insistence of the peoples of the
world. We scientists recognise our inescapable responsibility to carry to our
fellow citizens an understanding of atomic energy and its implication for society.
In this lies our only security and our only hope - we believe that an informed
citizenry will act for life and not for death.
I
do not know with what weapons World War 3 will be fought, but World War 4 will
be fought with sticks and stones.
Patriotism
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.
Heroism
on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the
name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them!
Peace
"Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by
raising my voice I can help the greatest of all causes - goodwill among men and
peace on earth."
Any
intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes
a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction.
Peace
cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved through understanding.
"There's
been a quantum leap technologically in our age, but unless there's another quantum
leap in human relations, unless we learn to live in a new way towards one another,
there will be a catastrophe."
Simplicity
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
I
believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best
both for the body and the mind.
“Three
Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the
middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
Tolerance
Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present
his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.
Vegetarian
Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on
Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
We
Want A Better World
"Perfection
of means and confusion of goals seem to characterize our age. If we desire sincerely
and passionately the safety, the welfare and the free development of the talents
of all men, we shall not be in want of the means to approach such a state."
