Philosophy cannot be extinguished, though men will try ... The spirit seeks the light, that is its nature. It wishes to return… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
Virtue comes through contemplation of the divine, and the exercise of philosophy. But it also comes through public service. The one is… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
Was not Hypatia the greatest philosopher of Alexandria, and a true martyr to the old values of learning? She was torn to… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“She had lost herself in this old work, her personality dissolving into it, so that she had been set free. The immortality… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“Considering he was neither priest nor scholar, the young man gave sensible, thoughtful replies -- the more so, perhaps, for being untrained,… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“Olivier took a deep breath, then turned and bowed in farewell. Gersonides nodded in return, then thought of something. "The manuscript you… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“[T]he concern of man is not his future but his present, not the world but his soul. We must be just, we… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
Manlius ... took care in his invitations, actively sought to exclude from his circle crude and vulgar men like Caius Valerius. But… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“I have brought peace to this land, and security," he began. "And what of your soul, when you use the cleverness of… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
The point of civilization is to be civilized; the purpose of action is to perpetuate society, for only in society can philosophy… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“Odd, don't you think? I have seen war, and invasions and riots. I have heard of massacres and brutalities beyond imagining, and I have… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“The next day was a dream of such perfection that I have never approached the like again. It was, of course, all illusion, but… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
And a more foolish notion can scarcely be imagined, it being obvious that the reader is only informed of what the writer wishes him… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
I learned that I' have to be detached if I was ever to achieve anything at all. — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“And here was the moment. The end of it all, for civilization was merely another name for friendship, and friendship was coming to an… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
When all this is over, people will try to blame the Germans alone, and the Germans will try to blame the Nazis alone, and… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“Considering he was neither priest nor scholar, the young man gave sensible, thoughtful replies -- the more so, perhaps, for being untrained, for he… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“Felix had gone to live in a lotus land of his imagination. Where what is desired is dreamed of as already happened, where obstacles… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
In my small way, I preserved and catalogued, and dipped into the vast ocean of learning that awaited, knowing all the time that the… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“Aunt Gertie could not tell the difference between 1928 and now. Uncle Joseph was dead and alive. In other words, she grasped the essential… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“I cannot remember a single painting, although I do remember trying hard to be deeply impressed by them at the time.” — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“It was, for the time being, an empty threat, and he must have sensed it also, for he laughed easily and with contempt. “You… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
![“[T]he concern of man is not his future but his present, not the world but his soul. We must be just, we must strive, we must engage ourselves with the business of the world for our own sake, because through that, and through contemplation in equal measure, our soul is purified and brought closer…” quote by Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/428/iain-pears-9652_action_t-he-concern-of-man-is-not-his-future-bu_1687578.jpg)
