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The great snare of thought is uncritical acceptance of irrational assumptions.

Will Durant

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Will Durant
Age: 96 †
Born: 1885
Born: November 5
Died: 1981
Died: November 7
Historian
Philosopher
Writer
North Adams
Massachusetts
William James Will Durant
William James Durant
Thought
Great
Uncritical
Snare
Snares
Assumptions
Irrational
Assumption
Acceptance

More quotes by Will Durant

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The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds.
Will Durant
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Truth always originates in a minority of one, and every custom begins as a broken precedent.
Will Durant
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A cat has a reputation to protect. If it had a halo, it would be worn cocked to one side.
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To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves let us be above such transparent egotism. If you can't say good and encouraging things, say nothing. Nothing is often a good thing to do, and always a clever thing to say.
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No man who is in a hurry is quite civilized.
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Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
Will Durant
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In its youth a people produce mythology and poetry in its decadence, philosophy and logic.
Will Durant
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If man asks for many laws it is only because he is sure that his neighbor needs them privately he is an unphilosophical anarchist, and thinks laws in his own case superfluous.
Will Durant
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Love one another. My final lesson of history is the same as that of Jesus. You may think that's a lot of lollipop but just try it. Love is the most practical thing in the world. If you take an attitude of love toward everybody you meet, you'll eventually get along.
Will Durant
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In progressive societies the concentration[of wealth] may reach a point where the strength of number in the many poor rivals the strength of ability in the few rich then the unstable equilibrium generates a critical situation, which history has diversely met by legislation redistributing wealth or by revolution distributing poverty.
Will Durant
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Man became free when he recognized that he was subject to law.
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Will Durant
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Education is the transmission of civilization.
Will Durant
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Nothing is often a good thing to do and always a good thing to say.
Will Durant
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Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom.
Will Durant
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Those who have suffered much become very bitter or very gentle.
Will Durant
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Tolerance grows only when faith loses certainty certainty is murderous.
Will Durant
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The South creates the civilizations, the North conquers them, ruins them, borrows from them, spreads them: this is one summary of history.
Will Durant
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Time sanctifies everything even the most arrant theft in the hands of the robber's grandchildren becomes sacred and inviolable property.
Will Durant
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Contentment is rare among men as it is natural among animals
Will Durant