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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: November 24, 1632
Died On: February 21, 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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Baruch Spinoza
Nature offers nothing that can be called this man's rather than another's; but under nature everything belongs to all.

Nature offers nothing that can be called this man's rather than another's; but under nature everything belongs to all.

Baruch Spinoza
We feel and experience ourselves to be eternal.

We feel and experience ourselves to be eternal.

Baruch Spinoza
Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue itself.

Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue itself.

Baruch Spinoza
Those who know the true use of money, and regulate the measure of wealth according to their needs, live contented with few things.

Those who know the true use of money, and regulate the measure of wealth according to their needs, live contented with few things.

Baruch Spinoza
Minds, however, are conquered not by arms, but by love and nobility.

Minds, however, are conquered not by arms, but by love and nobility.

Baruch Spinoza
I call him free who is led solely by reason.

I call him free who is led solely by reason.

Baruch Spinoza
Self-preservation is the primary and only foundation of virtue.

Self-preservation is the primary and only foundation of virtue.

Baruch Spinoza
All happiness or unhappiness solely depends upon the quality of the object to which we are attached by love.

All happiness or unhappiness solely depends upon the quality of the object to which we are attached by love.

Baruch Spinoza
We feel and know that we are eternal.

We feel and know that we are eternal.

Baruch Spinoza
Emotion, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.

Emotion, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.

Baruch Spinoza
All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare

All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare

Baruch Spinoza
Will and intellect are one and the same thing.

Will and intellect are one and the same thing.

Baruch Spinoza
Things which are accidentally the causes either of hope or fear are called good or evil omens.

Things which are accidentally the causes either of hope or fear are called good or evil omens.

Baruch Spinoza
The less the mind understands and the more things it perceives, the greater its power of feigning is; and the more things it understands, the more that power is diminished.

The less the mind understands and the more things it perceives, the greater its power of feigning is; and the more things it understands, the more that power is diminished.

Baruch Spinoza
Happiness is a virtue, not its reward.

Happiness is a virtue, not its reward.

Baruch Spinoza
I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of established religion.

I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of established religion.

Baruch Spinoza
Love is nothing but Joy with the accompanying idea of an external cause (Ethics, part III, proposition 13, scholium).

Love is nothing but Joy with the accompanying idea of an external cause (Ethics, part III, proposition 13, scholium).

Baruch Spinoza
Reason is no match for passion.

Reason is no match for passion.

Baruch Spinoza
Better that right counsels be known to enemies than that the evil secrets of tyrants should be concealed from citizens.

Better that right counsels be known to enemies than that the evil secrets of tyrants should be concealed from citizens.

Baruch Spinoza
It is certain that seditions, wars, and contempt or breach of the laws are not so much to be imputed to the wickedness of the subjects, as to the bad state of the dominion.

It is certain that seditions, wars, and contempt or breach of the laws are not so much to be imputed to the wickedness of the subjects, as to the bad state of the dominion.

Baruch Spinoza
By that which is self-caused, I mean that of which the essence involves existence, or that of which the nature is only conceivable as existent.

By that which is self-caused, I mean that of which the essence involves existence, or that of which the nature is only conceivable as existent.

Baruch Spinoza
Whether this desire for sex is moderate or not, it is usually called lust.

Whether this desire for sex is moderate or not, it is usually called lust.

Baruch Spinoza
I saw that all the things I feared and which feared me had nothing good or bad in them save in so far as the mind was affected by them.

I saw that all the things I feared and which feared me had nothing good or bad in them save in so far as the mind was affected by them.

Baruch Spinoza
These are the prejudices which I undertook to notice here. If any others of a similar character remain, they can easily be rectified with a little thought by anyone.

These are the prejudices which I undertook to notice here. If any others of a similar character remain, they can easily be rectified with a little thought by anyone.

Baruch Spinoza
Don’t cry and don’t rage. Understand.

Don’t cry and don’t rage. Understand.

Baruch Spinoza
Peace is not the absence of war, but a virtue based on strength of character.

Peace is not the absence of war, but a virtue based on strength of character.

Baruch Spinoza