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#phil

Read through the most famous quotes by topic #phil




A false-statement requires deceit and distortion for someone to buy it, but a truthful-statement sells itself.


William Bailey


#philosophy #death

If we can use an H-bomb--and as you said it's no checker game; it's real, it's war and nobody is fooling around--isn't it sort of ridiculous to go crawling around in the weeds, throwing knives and maybe getting yourself killed . . . and even losing the war . . . when you've got a real weapon you can use to win? What's the point in a whole lot of men risking their lives with obsolete weapons when one professor type can do so much more just by pushing a button?' Zim didn't answer at once, which wasn't like him at all. Then he said softly, 'Are you happy in the Infantry, Hendrick? You can resign, you know.' Hendrick muttered something; Zim said, 'Speak up!' I'm not itching to resign, sir. I'm going to sweat out my term.' I see. Well, the question you asked is one that a sergeant isn't really qualified to answer . . . and one that you shouldn't ask me. You're supposed to know the answer before you join up. Or you should. Did your school have a course in History and Moral Philosophy?' What? Sure--yes, sir.' Then you've heard the answer. But I'll give you my own--unofficial--views on it. If you wanted to teach a baby a lesson, would you cuts its head off?' Why . . . no, sir!' Of course not. You'd paddle it. There can be circumstances when it's just as foolish to hit an enemy with an H-Bomb as it would be to spank a baby with an ax. War is not violence and killing, pure and simple; war is controlled violence, for a purpose. The purpose of war is to support your government's decisions by force. The purpose is never to kill the enemy just to be killing him . . . but to make him do what you want him to do. Not killing . . . but controlled and purposeful violence. But it's not your business or mine to decide the purpose of the control. It's never a soldier's business to decide when or where or how--or why--he fights; that belongs to the statesmen and the generals. The statesmen decide why and how much; the generals take it from there and tell us where and when and how. We supply the violence; other people--"older and wiser heads," as they say--supply the control. Which is as it should be. That's the best answer I can give you. If it doesn't satisfy you, I'll get you a chit to go talk to the regimental commander. If he can't convince you--then go home and be a civilian! Because in that case you will certainly never make a soldier.


Robert A. Heinlein


#military #moral-philosophy #training #violence #war

I want you to understand that your first duty is to humanity. I want others to look at us and see that we care not just about ourselves but about others.


Madam C.J. Walker


#giving-back #philanthropy-business #service #women #business

Be a surfer. Watch the ocean. Figure out where the big waves are breaking and adjust accordingly.


37 Signals


#philosophy #strategy #technology #business

Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that knowledge must be pursued for its own sake and please, please stop me wanting to beat Verena Plackett in the exams.' She prayed hard and she meant what she said. But God was busy that autumn as the International Brigade came back, defeated, from Spain, Hitler's bestialities increased, and sparrows everywhere continued to fall.


Eva Ibbotson


#philosophical #business

The greatest courage is always quiet.


Michel Templet


#inspirational #philosophy #courage

He doesn't think of doctrines as primarily "true' or 'false', but as 'academic' or practical', 'outworn' or 'contemporary', 'conventional' or 'ruthless'. Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church. Don't waste time trying to make him think that materialism is true! Make him think it is strong, or stark, or courageous--that it is the philosophy of the future. That's the sort of thing he cares about.


C.S. Lewis


#jargon #philosophy #courage

The real question of life after death isn't whether or not it exists, but even if it does what problem this really solves.


Ludwig Wittgenstein


#philosophy #religion #death

My God, is this a date?" Jeff had asked when I asked if I could bring her along. "I don't know," I said. "She might still be happily lesbian.


Jefferson Bass


#my-life-story #ruined-youth #dating

You only live twice: Once when you're born And once when you look death in the face.


Ian Fleming


#james-bond #philosophy #poetry #death






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