--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think [Theosophical and Masonic books]…" description: "\"I think [Theosophical and Masonic books] wasn't that I was inspired so much. I was corroborated by them.\" — Paul Laffoley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/paul-laffoley-7077_book_i-think-theosophical-and-masonic-books-w_2947918.jpg" --- # I think \[Theosophical and Masonic books\] wasn't that I was… ![“I think [Theosophical and Masonic books] wasn't that I was inspired so much. I was corroborated by them.” quote by Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/paul-laffoley-7077_book_i-think-theosophical-and-masonic-books-w_2947918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/paul-laffoley-7077_book_i-think-theosophical-and-masonic-books-w_2947918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/paul-laffoley-7077_book_i-think-theosophical-and-masonic-books-w_2947918.jpg) > “I think \[Theosophical and Masonic books\] wasn't that I was inspired so much. I was corroborated by them.” [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author feels validated by esoteric texts rather than merely inspired by them. **In simple terms:** Books confirmed his beliefs. Key Takeaway Seek sources that affirm your worldview. Themes validation esotericism influence Mood contemplative introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - academic study - creative writing Key Concepts spirituality confirmation bias intellectual tradition Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance affirmation with critical inquiry? - What other sources could challenge your views? A Different Perspective Reliance on niche texts may limit broader perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Masonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masonic/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I would worry if I wasn't coming up with ideas, if I wasn't inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/i-would-worry-if-i-wasn-t-coming-up-with-ideas-if-i-wasn-t-inspired/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) > [I wasn't inspired by lunatic asylums or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-williamson/i-wasn-t-inspired-by-lunatic-asylums-or-anything-like-that/) [Matthew Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-williamson/) > [I can only speak for myself - there were times when I just wasn't inspired by creating music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/i-can-only-speak-for-myself-there-were-times-when-i-just-wasn-t/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [I wasn't inspired so much by a person as by reading many good books. I loved to write and I wondered if I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-kehret/i-wasn-t-inspired-so-much-by-a-person-as-by-reading-many-good-books-i/) [Peg Kehret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-kehret/) > [I ask of each Mason, of each member, of each brother, that he shall remember ever that there is upon him a peculiar obligation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-ask-of-each-mason-of-each-member-of-each-brother-that-he-shall/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a fitting tribute to so great a man and Mason. Its message should be as prominent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clausen/the-george-washington-masonic-national-memorial-is-a-fitting-tribute/) [Henry Clausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clausen/) > [There are great truths at the foundation of Freemasonry, truths which it is its mission to teach and which is constituting the very essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/there-are-great-truths-at-the-foundation-of-freemasonry-truths-which/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [A secret is powerful when it is empty. People often mention the "Masonic secret." What on earth is the Masonic secret? No one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/a-secret-is-powerful-when-it-is-empty-people-often-mention-the/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The precepts of the Gospel were universally the obligations of Masonry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-precepts-of-the-gospel-were-universally-the-obligations-of-masonry/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [I liked myths. They weren't adult stories and they weren't children stories. They were better than that. They just were. Adult stories never made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-liked-myths-they-weren-t-adult-stories-and-they-weren-t-children/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Because of this ever increasing discernment of the true Mason he/she will find more efficient ways to apply brotherly love, relief and truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/because-of-this-ever-increasing-discernment-of-the-true-mason-he-she/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The true Mason is the Tiler of the Temple of the Heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-true-mason-is-the-tiler-of-the-temple-of-the-heart/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [“The taste of blood and that annoying sting of a bitten tongue. Once man got the taste of blood there was no going back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/the-taste-of-blood-and-that-annoying-sting-of-a-bitten-tongue-once/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [Masonry inculcates faith in immortality as indispensable to moral living and urges its members to qualify for eternal life by the practice of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-hammond/masonry-inculcates-faith-in-immortality-as-indispensable-to-moral/) William E Hammond > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) ## More by Paul Laffoley > [ I first heard of \[Orfeo Angelucci\] from Giuseppe Conti who gave me some books by him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/i-first-heard-of-orfeo-angelucci-from-giuseppe-conti-who-gave-me-some/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ The whole thing that Dante \[Alighieri\] did was summed up in the medieval world. It's like St. Thomas Aquinas, the Summa Theologica. He didn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/the-whole-thing-that-dante-alighieri-did-was-summed-up-in-the/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ You know, Mick Jagger's "Sympathy for the Devil." I think it was inspired by that \[H.P.Lovecraft stories\]. You don't know who's reading what, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/you-know-mick-jagger-s-sympathy-for-the-devil-i-think-it-was-inspired/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ At 15 \[my father\] revolted against his father like any teenager, and said, "I'm out of here! What are you doing to me?" He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/at-15-my-father-revolted-against-his-father-like-any-teenager-and/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [At one time in the mid-'70s I became the president of the Boston-Cambridge chapter of the World Future Society. Because I'd been in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/at-one-time-in-the-mid-70s-i-became-the-president-of-the-boston/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ The Babson Institute, which is now an actual university, was started by this guy \[my father\] who also had a problem with believing in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/the-babson-institute-which-is-now-an-actual-university-was-started-by/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [As a kid, I was getting information in areas that no one else was getting. I think that was one of the reasons my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/as-a-kid-i-was-getting-information-in-areas-that-no-one-else-was/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ Stephen Hawking won \[Babson Institute competition \] one year with his black hole stuff. It's keeping an open mind on whether gravity exists or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/stephen-hawking-won-babson-institute-competition-one-year-with-his/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [I would say that it's probably impossible for a lot of people to even think what H.P. Lovecraft's theological state was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/i-would-say-that-it-s-probably-impossible-for-a-lot-of-people-to-even/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [My father was an extremely brilliant man. I consider him a genius, and so he probably could have joined Mensa. But why? I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/my-father-was-an-extremely-brilliant-man-i-consider-him-a-genius-and/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ \[My father\] was always saying I'd end up like my grandfather. Okay. My grandfather was an architect, I'm an architect. It's true, certain characteristics… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/my-father-was-always-saying-i-d-end-up-like-my-grandfather-okay-my/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ From the time of Dante \[Alighieri\], when you have the Ptolemaic universe, you had God on the outside like a hypersphere, and then in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/from-the-time-of-dante-alighieri-when-you-have-the-ptolemaic-universe/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ Walter C. Wright has a more cogent presentation than my father did about \[gravity\] being a push. But he had the same basic belief,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/walter-c-wright-has-a-more-cogent-presentation-than-my-father-did/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ I would say \[to my father\], "Why don't you actually take some courses in physics instead of saying \[you are not believing in gravity\]?"… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/i-would-say-to-my-father-why-don-t-you-actually-take-some-courses-in/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [ I began to analyze the movie \[The Day the Earth Stood Still\] and said it was really made out of these two characters \[Nikola… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/i-began-to-analyze-the-movie-the-day-the-earth-stood-still-and-said/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) [Explore all 95 Paul Laffoley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think [Theosophical and Masonic books] wasn't that I was inspired so much. 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