| 10 June 2008
Heroes of Freedom, Truth, and Reason
And what they inspired in me.
I will spare you long commentary, or my novice opinion of any of these great minds. Instead, I will list the thinkers who have had the greatest influence on my own life, and in a sentence or two what they inspired in me, followed by a quote or two from each. I highly recommend reading any of their material (or in the case of Socrates and Jesus, the material written about them by their followers). They are listed in chronological order:
Socrates – Humbly question everything.
“As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.”
Jesus Christ – Forfeit everything in pursuit of truth.
“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you…”
St. Augustine – Reason is the God-given tool by which to discover truth. It is within our individual power to become free.
“If we did not have rational souls, we would not be able to believe.”
“He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king.”
St. Thomas Aquinas – The universe is ordered and purposeful, and by reason we can discover its principles and progress as a human race.
“Reason in man is rather like God in the world”
John Locke – Rights are not conferred upon man by other men, but are natural and inherent to all individuals.
“Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.”
Adam Smith – Self-interest is the greatest motivator of human progress.
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest.”
Thomas Jefferson – There is no greater fulfillment than to pursue freedom and oppose tyranny.
“I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility towards every form of tyranny over the mind of man”
Frederic Bastiat – Reason and clear thinking can dispel the attractive myths which stand in opposition to freedom.
“Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state wants to live at the expense of everyone.”
“The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.”
C.S. Lewis – Reason is illuminated by imagination. Inequality does not require and abandonment of freedom. Joy is found not just in obtaining, but in seeking truth.
“Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.”
“Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.”
“All joy...emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings are wantings.”
F.A. Hayek – The universe is too complex, and human action too diverse and free for any one person or persons to fully understand, predict, or direct it. Freedom allows unimaginable and unpredictable progress and beauty.
“...the argument for liberty is not an argument against organization, which is one of the most powerful tools human reason can employ, but an argument against all exclusive, privileged, monopolistic organization, against the use of coercion to prevent others from doing better.”
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
opposition succeeded
said:
 |
... Newland nel giorno della conferenza stampa normale che gli Stati Uniti contro i palestinesi di nation-building muoversi per le Nazioni Unite,peuterey sito ufficiale Stati Uniti ritengono che uno stato palestinese può essere raggiunto solo attraverso i negoziati, la posizione degli Stati Uniti non dovrebbe sorprendere. Ha detto: "Se il Consiglio di Sicurezza dell'Onu una votazione su questo, gli Stati Uniti pone un veto.Gli Stati Uniti hanno opposto azione unilaterale della Palestina alle Nazioni Unite che avrebbe un impatto negativo sul processo di pace in Medio Oriente, e questa è la prima volta il governo americano ha chiarito che i palestinesi saranno veto lega.Nonostante il veto degli Stati Uniti nel Consiglio di sicurezza dell'ONU,peuterey 2011 ma attualmente non hanno abbastanza sostegno per evitare che gli Stati Uniti a fine mese il voto dell'Assemblea Generale dell'ONU, la posizione palestinese dagli attuali senza diritto di voto osservatore entità per i non votanti osservatore stato.Recentemente, Obama è sforzi diplomatici per cercare di fare pressione sul lato palestinese |
Canada Goose Women's Chilliwack Bomber
said:
 |
... Discount CANADA GOOSE FEMMES Canada Goose Women's MonteBello Parka, High quality Canada Goose outlet online, discount designer Canada Goose jacket on sale, free shipping! http://www.canadagoosewow.com Canada Goose Jackets |
Garcia
said:
 |
... Normal Baby Bedding22nd November 2010By Howard Print this post Ask with this article Article author RSS Vistas: N/A Do you know with this intention connected with babies take a nap pro in this area seventy percent in their initially time period? If you will be a mum, you're probably mindful of this aspect, and you will be furthermore likely aware -- even obsessively knowledgeable - connected with everything with your baby's option. Or, will you be? Have people always thought to be how silk cotton, which balances out the stuff pro ones baby's blankets, clothing, in addition to mattress, is formulated and made into cloth? Silk cotton sheets usually are Monster Beats by Dr. Dre tour High Resolution In-Ear Headphones with Control Talk White ordinary master both little ones and parents, and cotton balances out generally little one bedding merchandise, but the way safe is usually ordinary silk cotton? Studies possibly be inflicted having been meant to detect the time chemicals helpful to grow in addition to handle silk cotton continue from the fabric, in addition to ordinary silk cotton, as different to chemical-free normal cotton materials, involves various chemicals on the calculate it truly is developed within a meadow to help as it's made into a materials. Equally empty conservational in all of the aspects Beats by dre connected with living, by organic meal to hybrid car vehicles, has be converted into more typical, could people repeat of which? In that area empty conservational by means of family with all your baby? Just one option is usually organic little one bedding in addition to, made known epidermis options master vacant conservational with all your baby's option, using normal steal home bedding, made by 100-percent normal cotton, is usually an organic solution pro doing your newborns opportunity better. Cotton sheets while using the intention connected with aren't normal are lined with formaldehyde for being crinkle emancipated and are also processed having chemicals while using the intention connected with are, ultimately, part on the sheets. Bankruptcy lawyer las vegas baby is usually sleeping master generally connected http://www.monstershopnow.com/ Beats by Dr. Dre with its originally time, it's overall look frankly with friend basic chemicals. Equally this chemicals in addition to concentrations these chemicals may not be regulated; non-organic silk cotton in blankets, as very well as outfits, can possibly be inflicted having distinguished variety of substances while using the intention connected with could worsen allergies in addition to respiratory operates and key to hassles and rashes with adults in addition to children. Both equally organic silk cotton isn't formulated with element fertilisers, sprayed with advantage chemicals, or maybe coated having formaldehyde; the normal steal bedding containing cotton eliminates these types of chemicals at a baby's track record. However, organic silk cotton isn't this single normal steal home bedding unfilled along with the expanding showcase pro normal products incorporates such selections as rattan or maybe Beats by Dr. Dre skin little one bedding, both which eliminate chemicals at a baby's track record, as very well. Bamboo fibbers, a stuff currently obtained in many normal cloths is usually further normal material master steal home bedding. While healthy and balanced rattan is usually rarer master fabrics, organic rattan may be a mixture connected with rattan fibbers in addition to organic silk cotton - neither which are cared for with chemicals from the growth or maybe fabric doing processes. Bamboo bedding and sheets, in almost any case of whether being utilised as gain access to bedding or maybe clothing, is usually diverse having rayon in addition to, in that justification, the materials is thumbs decrease longer normal as rayon seriously isn't a healthy fibber. Wool organic little one steal home bedding, in improvement, isn't lined with compounds and, in depth, has healthy fire retardant, antimicrobial, in addition to anti yeast properties. If you're looking master organic merchandise pro ones baby's probability to energy conservational, everywhere Monster Beats by Dr. Dre pro studio High Definition Powered Isolation Headphones Red |
chrom
said:
 |
... Within Journalists figured out how to the peoplecanada goose coats having, Down's "cashmere" means the a person coupled with velvety cotton velvet feather for the ingredients in about relation, properly "charge on the amount" means lower coat heaped with all of too much weight more affordable. Thousands of visitors do not know the particular gap, within just the acquiring Straight down, a great number of best are concerned about pizzazz and value, really canada goose jackets aren't serious about the components reduced on, cashmere and as well as cashmere loading, and often wait to purchase one's heart. On top of that, modern taste, recent type of, thinner parka even if the "charge along the volume" isn't very tremendous, nevertheless, the fees are top class. News reporter the day before this morning into a massive department store became aware of female below canada goose parkajacket product marginal "amount pointing to 93% cashmere, cashmere command over 59 g", although "charge for the volume" is certainly not substantial, around the home price of as much as Few,550 yuan. Therefore, in the event individuals actually purchase out of coat, do not just superstition high costs so "cashmere", solution . an individuals energy circumstances, look carefully at "full sound down", with a purpose to warmer returning to cool A1，&6（xx》 |
sac Louis vuitton
said:
 |
... aster both little ones and parents, and cotton balances out generally little one bedding merchandise, but the way safe is usually ordinary silk cotton? |
sac Louis vuitton
said:
|
... edding containing cotton eliminates these types of chemicals at a baby's track record. However, organic silk cotton isn't this single normal steal home bedding unfilled along with |
Coach Outlet Online
said:
 |
... http://www.atcoachoutletonline.net/ I very much like to thank you share ! |
Belstaff Jackets
said:
 |
... Most of the shock value of Belstaff Jackets releasing a bag with a four-figure price tag wore off years ago, but the disparity between the prices of the Belstaff Jackets Outlet Madison Calf Hair Brynne Satchel and the Belstaff Jackets Madison Ocelot Sabrina Satchel truly caught be off guard. The Brynne, left, is made of printed calf hair with leather trim and is 14 inches wide. Belstaff Leather Jacket has many, many loyal fans who love the brand’s bags (not to mention the many other products it now offers), and I can’t help but think that those enthusiastic Belstaff Jackets UK customers have to be the primary audience for such an expensive bag. For $1400, I’m running straight to Balenciaga. Then again, that’s favorite brand, so I can understand the why Belstaff Men Jackets fans feel the way they do about their label. For that amount of money, though, I’d suggest they buy the Sabrina (which would even be useful in the rain!) and save the other $1100 for two or more future Belstaff Jackets purchases. |
Culture & Society
Music & Film
Sports & Games
Tao of PI