Apart from selfish reasons, such as fear of punishments, fear of blame, of dishonour, etc, there remains only two motives that can stop (or prevent, “empâecher”, Fr.) men from acting badly.
AFRIKAN SPIRThe distinction between right and wrong (“la distinction du bien et du mal”, Fr.), is nothing else than their unyielding (or implacable) opposition.
More Afrikan Spir Quotes
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What is the use for a man to have at his disposal a large field of action, if within himself he remains confine to the narrow limits of his individuality.
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As long as men will not be freed from their errors and delusions, humanity will not be able to go towards (“marcher vers”, Fr.) the accomplishment of its true destinies.
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If we do turn (direct, aim, – “dirige”, Fr.) life in time the social life in new directions (or ways, – “dans des voies nouvelles”, Fr.)
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The intellectual development of man, far from having get men away from war, has, rather, on the contrary, bring them to a refinment always more perfected in the art of killing.
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True morality, true philosophy and true art are in their essence (“dans leur essence”, Fr.) religious.”
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When under the influence of certain (or some) reasons (or causes) (alcohol, war, etc – added Spir here) the low instincts are unbridled (or unrestrained).
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In this world everything that is won to the ideal, is an eternal (or imperishable, – “impérissable”, Fr.) good.
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We can, following the exemple of Kant, consider the moral development and improvement of men, as the supreme goal of human evolution.
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The military predominace of Sparte. This example proves that man can everything on themselves when they want it (“peuvent tout sur eux-mêmes quand ils le veulent”, Fr.); therefore it would only be a question of making them will the good.
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(“La religion n’et pas une smple théorie, elle est une vie supérieure, dont la moralité fait partie intégrante – une vie vouée au culte du bien et du vrai, car Dieu, l’absolu est la source de toute perfection”, Fr.)
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Experience shows that what great role pratice and experience play in education; pratice, the prolonged exercice lead to habit: exemple suggests imitation.
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There is a radical dualism between the empirical nature of man and its moral nature.
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Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each other that the empirical nature is distinct from the higher nature of man.
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In ancient times, any man rising up above the common people tried to shape his life according to his principles; it is no longer like than now; it is (because) for the ancients.
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If the present civilisation does not acquire some stable moral fondations (“bases morales stables”, Fr.), its existence will hardly be more assured than that of the civilisations that have preceeded it, and which have fallen (or collapse, or failed).
AFRIKAN SPIR