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Baruch Spinoza Quotes

53 Inspiring Quotes By Baruch Spinoza, The Renowned Dutch Philosopher

Famous As: One of the Most Important Philosophers of the Early Modern Period

Born On: 1632

Died On: 1677

Born In: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Died At Age: 44

Baruch Spinoza was a 19th century Dutch philosopher. He is regarded as one of the most important philosophers in history for having laid the foundations of what came to be known as 18th century enlightenment. Spinoza was also responsible for introducing biblical criticism. Spinoza went through a traditional Jewish education and studied under the tutelage of Saul Levi Morteira, a Rabbi. He worked in his father’s business for a while but later started working as a teacher and that is when he started off his journey as a philosopher. Spinoza is best known for his work on ethics, Hebrew grammar, epistemology and metaphysics. Some of his most notable ideas include those on political society, Pantheism, neutral monism, affect, par-allelism, separation of church and state and lastly, intellectual and religious freedom among others. His school of thought is broadly classified under Spinozism and rationalism, the latter being the bedrock of some of the most important theories in western philosophy. Some of his better known works include ‘A Short Treatise on God’, ‘Man and His Well Being’, ‘The Principles of Cartesian Philosophy’ and his most famous work ‘The Ethics’ among others. His thoughts and observations on various subjects became popular over a period of time. Here are some of the best known sayings and quotes by Baruch Spinoza.

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Philosophers

Intellectuals & Academics

The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.

The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.
Learning
Baruch Spinoza

I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of the peace.

I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of the peace.
Peace I
Baruch Spinoza

No matter how thin you slice it, there will always be two sides.

No matter how thin you slice it, there will always be two sides.
You Will
Baruch Spinoza

If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past.

If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past.
You Past
Baruch Spinoza

Everything excellent is as difficult as it is rare.

Everything excellent is as difficult as it is rare.
Baruch Spinoza

Peace is not the absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition of benevolence, confidence, justice.

Peace is not the absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition of benevolence, confidence, justice.
War Peace
Baruch Spinoza

I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.

I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.
I
Baruch Spinoza

The more clearly you understand yourself and your emotions, the more you become a lover of what is.

The more clearly you understand yourself and your emotions, the more you become a lover of what is.
You Yourself
Baruch Spinoza

Do not weep. Do not wax indignant. Understand.

Do not weep. Do not wax indignant. Understand.
Baruch Spinoza

I 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.

I 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.
You Nature Beautiful I
Baruch Spinoza

There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope.

There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope.
Fear Hope
Baruch Spinoza

Be not astonished at new ideas; for it is well known to you that a thing does not therefore cease to be true because it is not accepted by many.

Be not astonished at new ideas; for it is well known to you that a thing does not therefore cease to be true because it is not accepted by many.
You
Baruch Spinoza

In so far as the mind sees things in their eternal aspect, it participates in eternity.

In so far as the mind sees things in their eternal aspect, it participates in eternity.
Baruch Spinoza

The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue.

The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue.
Baruch Spinoza

Pride is pleasure arising from a man's thinking too highly of himself.

Pride is pleasure arising from a man's thinking too highly of himself.
Baruch Spinoza

No to laugh, not to lament, not to detest, but to understand.

No to laugh, not to lament, not to detest, but to understand.
Baruch Spinoza

When a man is prey to his emotions, he is not his own master.

When a man is prey to his emotions, he is not his own master.
Baruch Spinoza

I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them.

I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them.
I
Baruch Spinoza

There can be no hope without fear, and no fear without hope.

There can be no hope without fear, and no fear without hope.
Fear Hope
Baruch Spinoza

In practical life we are compelled to follow what is most probable ; in speculative thought we are compelled to follow truth.

In practical life we are compelled to follow what is most probable ; in speculative thought we are compelled to follow truth.
Life
Baruch Spinoza

What Paul says about Peter tells us more about Paul than about Peter

What Paul says about Peter tells us more about Paul than about Peter
Baruch Spinoza

None are more taken in by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the first and are not.

None are more taken in by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the first and are not.
Baruch Spinoza

Only in relation to our imagination can things be called beautiful or ugly, well-ordered or confused

Only in relation to our imagination can things be called beautiful or ugly, well-ordered or confused
Beautiful
Baruch Spinoza

He alone is free who lives with free consent under the entire guidance of reason

He alone is free who lives with free consent under the entire guidance of reason
Alone
Baruch Spinoza

A free man thinks of nothing less than of death, and his wisdom is a meditation, not on death, but on life.

A free man thinks of nothing less than of death, and his wisdom is a meditation, not on death, but on life.
Life Death
Baruch Spinoza

Men 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.

Men 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 Spinoza

The mind of God is all the mentality that is scattered over space and time, the diffused consciousness that animates the world.

The mind of God is all the mentality that is scattered over space and time, the diffused consciousness that animates the world.
God Time
Baruch Spinoza