“Whenever I hear people talking about "liberal ideas," I am always astounded that men should love to fool themselves with empty sounds. An idea should never be liberal; it must be vigorous, positive, and without loose ends so that it may fulfill its divine mission and be productive. The proper place for liberality is in the realm of the emotions.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - “Whenever I hear people...” 1

Similar quotes

“I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves.”

Ernesto Che Guevara
Read more

“We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society.”

Angela Davis
Read more

“It only takes 20 years for a liberal to become a conservative without changing a single idea.”

Robert Anton Wilson
Read more

“All those who prefer peace to power, and happiness to glory should thank the colonized people for their civilizing mission. By liberating themselves, they made Europeans more modest, less racist, and more human. Let us hope that the process continues and that the Americans are obliged to follow the same course. When one’s own cause is unjust, defeat can be liberating.”

Jean Bricmont
Read more

“LIBERATION LEADS TO LIBERATION. These are the first words of truth — not truth in quotation marks but truth in the real meaning of the word; truth which is not merely theoretical, not simply a word, but truth that can be realized in practice. The meaning behind these words may be explained as follows: By liberation is meant the liberation which is the aim of all schools, all religions, at all times. This liberation can indeed be very great. All men desire it and strive after it. But it cannot be attained without the first liberation, a lesser liberation. The great liberation is liberation from influences outside us. The lesser liberation is liberation from influences within us.”

G. I. Gurdjieff
Read more