Quotes by Baruch Spinoza

“The holy word of God is on everyone's lips...but...we see almost everyone presenting their own versions of God's word, with the sole purpose of using religion as a pretext for making others think as they do.”

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

“He who seeks equality between unequals seeks an absurdity.”

“Do not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand.”

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

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

“The supreme mystery of despotism, its prop and stay, is to keep men in a state of deception, and with the specious title of religion to cloak the fear by which they must be held in check, so that they will fight for their servitude as if for salvation.”

“We must take care not to admit as true anything, which is only probable. For when one falsity has been let in, infinite others follow.”

“It may easily come to pass that a vain man may become proud and imagine himself pleasing to all when he is in reality a universal nuisance.”

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

“[Believers] are but triflers who, when they cannot explain a thing, run back to the will of God; this is, truly, a ridiculous way of expressing ignorance.”

“Philosophy has no end in view save truth; faith looks for nothing but obedience and piety.”