Do not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand.
BARUCH SPINOZADo not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand.
BARUCH SPINOZAMen are mistaken in thinking themselves free; their opinion is made up of consciousness of their own actions, and ignorance of the causes by which they are determined.
BARUCH SPINOZANature has no goal in view, and final causes are only human imaginings.
BARUCH SPINOZAI call him free who is led solely by reason.
BARUCH SPINOZANature offers nothing that can be called this man’s rather than another’s; but under nature everything belongs to all.
BARUCH SPINOZAReason is no match for passion.
BARUCH SPINOZABlessed are the weak who think that they are good because they have no claws.
BARUCH SPINOZAThe endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue.
BARUCH SPINOZAPhilosophy has no end in view save truth; faith looks for nothing but obedience and piety.
BARUCH SPINOZAI would warn you that I do not attribute to nature either beauty or deformity, order or confusion. Only in relation to our imagination can things be called beautiful or ugly, well-ordered or confused.
BARUCH SPINOZADesire nothing for yourself, which you do not desire for others.
BARUCH SPINOZASadness diminishes a man’s powers.
BARUCH SPINOZAIn so far as the mind sees things in their eternal aspect, it participates in eternity.
BARUCH SPINOZAReason connot defeat emotion, an emotion can only be displaced or overcome by a stronger emotion.
BARUCH SPINOZAMen govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.
BARUCH SPINOZANothing in nature is by chance. Something appears to be chance only because of our lack of knowledge.
BARUCH SPINOZA