WIST QuotationsApr 30

A quotation from Eric Hoffer

Unless a man has talents to make something of himself, freedom is an irksome burden. Of what avail is freedom to choose if the self be ineffectual? We join a mass movement to escape individual responsibility, or, in the words of the ardent young Nazi, “to be free from freedom.” It was not sheer hypocrisy when the rank-and-file Nazis declared themselves not guilty of all the enormities they had committed. They considered themselves cheated and maligned when made to shoulder responsibility for obeying orders. Had they not joined the Nazi movement in order to be free from responsibility?

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 2, ch. 5, § 26 (1951)

More about this quote: wist.info/hoffer-eric/10751/

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Hoffer, Eric - True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 2, ch. 5, § 26 (1951) | WIST Quotations

Unless a man has talents to make something of himself, freedom is an irksome burden. Of what avail is freedom to choose if the self be ineffectual? We join a mass movement to escape individual responsibility, or, in the words of the ardent young Nazi, "to be free from freedom."…

WIST Quotations
WIST QuotationsApr 27

A quotation from Montesquieu

I suffer from the disease of writing books and being ashamed of them when they are finished.
 
[J’ai la maladie de faire des livres et d’en être honteux quand je les ai faits.]

Charles-Lewis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French political philosopher
Pensées Diverses [Assorted Thoughts], # 83 / 837 (1720-1755)

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montesquieu/83690/

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!Sep 30, 2025

A quotation from A. A. Milne

   “I have been Foolish and Deluded,” said Pooh, “and I am a Bear of No Brain at All.”
   “You’re the Best Bear in All the World,” said Christopher Robin soothingly.

A. A. Milne (1882-1956) English poet and playwright [Alan Alexander Milne]
Winnie-the-Pooh, ch. 3 “Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting” (1926)

More info about this quote: wist.info/milne-a-a/2843/

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WIST Quotations moves again!Dec 10, 2024

A quotation from Joubert, Joseph:

«
Half myself mocks the other half.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/joubert-joseph/22669/

#quote #quotes #quotation #divided #halfamind #selfawareness #selfchallenging #selfcontempt #selfcriticism

WIST Quotations moves again!Jul 3, 2024

A quotation from Hoffer, Eric:

«
That hatred springs more from self-contempt than from a legitimate grievance is seen in the intimate connection between hatred and a guilty conscience. There is perhaps no surer way of infecting ourselves with virulent hatred toward a person than by doing him a grave injustice. That others have a…
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/hoffer-eric/31573/

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True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 3, ch. 14, § 69 (1951) - Hoffer, Eric | WIST Quotations

That hatred springs more from self-contempt than from a legitimate grievance is seen in the intimate connection between hatred and a guilty conscience. There is perhaps no surer way of infecting ourselves with virulent hatred toward a person than by doing him a grave injustice. That others have a just…

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WIST Quotations moves again!Apr 9, 2024

A quotation from Hoffer, Eric:

«
The awareness of their individual blemishes and shortcomings inclines the frustrated to detect ill will and meanness in their fellow men. Self-contempt, however vague, sharpens our eyes for the imperfections of others. We usually strive to reveal in others the blemishes we hide in ourselves.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/hoffer-eric/10579/

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True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Part 3, ch. 14, § 100 (1951) - Hoffer, Eric | WIST Quotations

The awareness of their individual blemishes and shortcomings inclines the frustrated to detect ill will and meanness in their fellow men. Self-contempt, however vague, sharpens our eyes for the imperfections of others. We usually strive to reveal in others the blemishes we hide in ourselves.

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WIST Quotations moves again!Nov 9, 2023

A quotation from McLaughlin, Mignon:

«
A neurotic is someone who’s afraid to see himself as he’s afraid others see him.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/mclaughlin-mignon/64540/

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The Second Neurotic's Notebook, ch. 10 (1966) - McLaughlin, Mignon | WIST Quotations

A neurotic is someone who's afraid to see himself as he's afraid others see him.

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