Eric Hoffer Quotes

The sick in soul insist that it is humanity that is sick, and they are the surgeons to operate on it. They want to turn the world into a sickroom. And once they get humanity strapped to the operating table, they operate on it with an ax.

No matter how noble the objectives of a government, if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens human life, and breeds ill will and suspicion; it is an evil government.

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.

It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things which excites people to revolt.

Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and the calamity is that they are listened to and deferred to by so many adults.

When people are bored it is primarily with themselves.

Self-righteousness is a loud din raised to drown the voice of guilt within us.

Language was invented to ask questions. Answers may be given by grunts and gestures, but questions must be spoken. Humanness came of age when man asked the first question.

To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are.