Philosophy: Ground Zero For Quotation Confusion
Is there anything more confusing than one of Nietzsche's aphorisms? How about a line, any line, from Hegel? Whether you're a Philosophy undergraduate, a fan of philosophy, or just heard the quote and want to make sense of it, we'll at least try to have you covered.
In this category and the related sub-categories, we'll look at some of the most cited quotes in the history of Philosophy. From Camu to Kierkegaard to Hegel we'll explain the situation that surrounded the famous quote and (hopefully) provides some context in the hopes readers may understand just what the author was talking about.
For an in-depth breakdown of certain philosophical positions, there is perhaps no better source than the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Entries in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy are peer-reviewed and meet the highest levels of scholarship (at least among those pieces that are publicly available online).
If you don't see a philosophical quote that you need or would like to have explained, visit our contact us page and we'll add it to the queue. Also, visit the same place if you've spotted a flaw in any piece you find in this section or elsewhere on the site.
Foundational Quotes in Philosophy
While we have a full list of philosophy quotes available below, here is a sampling of some of the most requested quotes about the ancient tradition.
If I Am The Wisest Man Alive Quote by Socrates
There is perhaps no more cited quote in the history of philosophy then this quote allegedly spoken by the man himself which gets the foundations of intellectual humility required for philosophical inquiry.
I think Therefore I am by Rene Descartes
After Socrates but before Russell, Rene Descartes ushered in a new wave of Philosophy with his first and second meditations. This quote by Descartes, lead him to question the foundations of using evidence to discover truth.
The Man Who Has No Tincture of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
A key figure in the Analytic tradition of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell was noted for speaking about the importance of philosophical inquiry. Read more about this Bertrand Russell quote.
Famous Einstein Quotes
He's so frequently discussed, we curated a list of some of Albert Einstein's most used quotes.
God Does Not Play Dice: The quote by Einstein is often used casually. However those five words were actually fundamental to Einstein's views about the Universe and belie his preferred interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. Niels Bohr, however, may have gotten the better of him in this exchange with his response.
Views on Gandhi: It's no secret that the late Physicist was fond of the Indian activist. We break down his moving quote about the famed pacifist.
All Philosophy quotes
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He Who Has A Why To Live Can Bear Almost Any How
Let's breakdown Friedrich Nietzsche's famous quote, 'He who has a why to live can bear almost any how'. Discover its deep-rooted meaning in the context of Nietzsche's philosophy, its relevance in the modern world, and the enduring influence it holds.
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It Is Not Contrary to Reason to Prefer the Destruction of the Whole World to the Scratching of My Finger David Hume
What did Hume mean when he said It Is Not Contrary to Reason to Prefer the Destruction of the Whole World to the Scratching of My Finger
David Hume -
Objective Uncertainty That Is Held Fast Soren Kierkegaard
Find out what Kierkegaard meant when he said "objective uncertainty that is held fast in an appropriation process that is of the most passionate inwardness."
Soren Kierkegaard -
The Whole Problem With This World Is That Fools and Fanatics Are Always So Certain and The Wiser So Full of Doubt Meaning
Bertrand Russell famously remarked "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are so full of doubts."
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God Does Not Play Dice Albert Einstein
Read about the famous quote by Albert Einstein that "God Does Not Play Dice." Who he said it too, why he said it and when.
Albert Einstein -
I Think Therefore I Am Quote By Rene Descartes
Read about the meaning behind the famous quote by Rene Descartes "cogito, ergo sum" or, in english, "I think therefore I am."
Rene Descartes -
Our Friendship Was Not An Easy One, But I Shall Miss It
The feud between philosophers Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre was the stuff of legend. The two were aggressively opposed to the other.
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If I am the wisest man alive, it is for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing Socrates
It is often portrayed that Socrates was never the wiser, than the moment when he chuckled and responded to the oracle of delphi “”If I am the wisest man alive, it is for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.”
Socrates -
Owl of Minerva Spreads Its Wings Only With The Falling of the Dusk
Not only is Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel one of the most famous philosopher's of all time, but he's also famously difficult to understand. Philosopher and podcaster Tamler Sommers once stated "he's probably a top tier thinker...but I'll never know because I can't get through any of his books." Among his most cited quotes is this one about how to observe and evaluate history.
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Albert Einstein On Mahatma Gandhi
For a very long time Albert Einstein was fond of Mahatma Gandhi’s political activism. Idealizing his commitment to pacifism.
Albert Einstein -
Subjective Toward Themselves and Objective Toward All Others Søren Kierkegaard
In 1841, Søren Kierkegaard wrote that the whole problem is that people are "Subjective Toward Themselves and Objective Toward All Others." While just another quote by a philosopher, the quote would ultimately manifest in one of the most foundational psychological findings in the field. We'll explain the quote, provide references and then get to its historical legacy and importance.
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Practical Man As This Word Is Often Used
Whether as a Philosopher, Mathematician, or Logician Bertrand Russell was a revolutionary mind with insights that transformed all three fields. His book "A History of Western Philosophy", published in 1945, is among the most recommended and revered books about western philosophy in a vast collection of books about the subject.
Bertrand Russell -
The Man Who Has No Tincture of Philosophy Goes Through Life Imprisoned
The Man Who Has No Tincture of Philosophy Goes Through Life Imprisoned quote by Bertrand Russell explained.
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Stop Telling God What To Do Niels Bohr
Stop Telling God What To Do is a famous quote by physicist Niels Bohr. The line was a rebuttal to a famous quote by Albert Einstein that "God Does Not Play Dice." We'll explain the background of the quote and the events that preceded it on this page.
Niels Bohr
