Amazing Quotes 27: The No Asshole Rule

There are few books that can be recommended to EVERYONE, regardless of their age, profession, interests, etc. This is one of them: The No Asshole Rule from Robert I. Sutton. The thesis of the book is simple: asshole(s) are destructive, NO MATTER how stellar their performance is. Here are some quotes from this superb book: 

The effects of assholes are so devastating because they sap people of their energy and esteem mostly through the accumulated effects of small, demeaning acts, not so much through one or two dramatic episodes.

-- page 29

Assholes don't just damage the immediate targets of their abuse. Coworkers, family members, or friends who watch--or just hear about--these ugly incidents suffer ripple effects.

-- page 31

For most of my professional carrer I have been telling anyone who would listen that I can work with jus about every type of person with one glaring exception--assholes. 

-- Roderick C. Hare, CEO of Mission Ridge Capital, page 58

It also turned out that firing this selfish and difficult "superstar" had financial benefits, as the total sales volume in the store increased nearly 30% after he left. No Single salesperson sold as much as the departed "star," but the store as a whole did better.

-- page 67

In the US and other Western countries, we are always pressing to create bigger differences among winners, also-rans, and losers, but if you want to have fewer assholes --and better organizational performances--reducing the differences between the highest- and lowest-status members of your organization is the way to go.

-- page 77

... conflict is constructive when people argue over ideas rather than personality or relationship issues ...

-- page 82

... to keep your inner asshole from getting out, you need to be aware of places and people that will turn you into an asshole.

-- page 118

So what are you waiting for? Buy this book, since it will help your company AND the whole world at the same time!

Further reading:

Sutton's blog

Sutton's response to opinion that "Steve Jobs is an evidence that asshole works!"

Amazing Quotes 26: Huntington's Who Are We?

"Who are we?" is the last, and arguably, most controversial book of Samuel P. Huntington. This book discusses the nature of American identity. Some accused Huntington as racist because he doesn't care about political correctness and pointed out that illegal immigration is illegal, and dangerous for American identity. I disagree with some part of this book, nevertheless, it still contains tons of thoughtful quotes such as:

We have to know who we are before we can know what our interest are.

-- page 10

Historical experience and sociological analysis show that the absence of an external "other" is likely to undermine unity and breed division within a society.

-- page 18

Competition and conflict can only occur between entities that are in the same universe or arena. In some sense, as Volkan put it, "the enemy" has to be "like us."

-- page 26

To describe America as a "nation of immigrants" is to stretch a partial truth into a misleading falsehood, and to ignore the central fact of America's beginning as a society of settlers.

-- page 46

The Protestant emphasis on the individual conscience and the responsibility of individuals to learn God's truth directly from the Bible promoted American commitment to individualism, equality, and the rights to freedom of religion and opinion.

-- page 68

While the American Creed is Protestantism without God, the American civil religion is Christianity without Christ.

-- page 107

Americans created the term and the concept of Americanization in late 18th century when they also created the term and the concept of immigrant.

-- page 133

The Americanization movement began with private organizations at the grass roots.

-- page 135

Amazing Quotes 25: Political Order in Changing Societies 3

In the first part, Huntington discussed the overall thesis of the book, and how monarchy could influence and become the part of political development.

In the second part, Huntington explained the role of revolution and military institution in the political development of a country.

In the last part, Huntington put the explanation about the role of reform and political parties, as follows:

If there is any cleavage which is virtually universal in modernizing countries, it is the cleavage between government and university.

-- Page 371

Throughout history peasant revolts and jacquieries have typically aimed at the elimination of specific evils or abuses.

-- Page 374

The urban middle-class intellectual has aspirations which can never be realized and he hence exists in a state of permanent volatility. There is no mistaking his role. The peasantry, on the other hand, may be the bulwark of the status quo or the shock troops of revolution. Which role the peasant plays is determined by the extent to which the existing system meets his immediate economic and material needs as he sees them.

-- Page 375

Traditional polities do not have political parties; modernizing polities need them but often do not want them.

-- Page 403

The more hostile a government is toward political parties in a modernizing society, however, the greater the probable future instability of that society.

-- Page 407

The institutional strength of a political party is measured, in the first instance, by its ability to survive its founder or the charismatic leader who first brings it to power.

-- Page 409

In terms of political development, however, what counts is not the number of parties but rather the strength and adaptability of the party system.

-- Page 420

The party is a modern organization. But to be successful it must organize a traditional countryside.

-- Page 434

The source of political modernity is the city; the source of political stability is the countryside. The task of the party is to combine the two.

-- Page 434

In the modernizing world he controls the future who organizes its politics.

-- Page 461, the last sentence of the book.

Amazing Quotes 24:Political Order in Changing Societies 2

Let's continue the collection of amazing quotes from "Political Order in Changing Societies." This time, let's cover chapter 4 -5.

Countries which have political armies also have political clergies, political universities, political bureaucracies, political labor unions, and political corporation.

-- Page 194

Corruption in a limited sense refers to the intervention of wealth in the political sphere. Praetorianism in a limited sense refers to the intervention of the military in politics, and clericalism to the participation of religious leaders.

-- Page 194 - 195

Independence frequently left a small, modernized, intellectual elite confronting a large, amorphous, unmobilized, still highly traditional society.

-- Page 200

... while other social forces can pressure the government, the military can replace the government. Monks and priests can demonstrate, students riot, and workers strike, but no one of these groups has, except in most unusual circumstances, demonstrated any capacity to govern.

-- Page 217

... their [the military] historical role is to open the dor to the middle class and to close it on the lower class.

-- Page 222

Even more so than other groups in society, military officers tend to see parties as the agents of disunity rather than as mechanisms for consensus-building. Their goal is community without politics, consensus by command. By criticizing and downgrading the role of politics the military prevent society from achieving the community which it needs and they value.

-- Page 244

The role of the city is constant: it is the permanent source of opposition. The role of the countryside is variable: it is either the source of stability or the source of revolution.

He who controls the countryside controls the country.

-- Page 292

Urban migration is, in some measure, a substitute for rural revolution. Hence, contrary to common belief, the susceptibility of a country to revolution may vary inversely with its rate of urbanization.

-- Page 299

Revolutions produce little liberty, but they are history's most expeditious means of producing fraternity, equality, and identity.

-- Page 311

Marxism is a theory of history. Leninism is a theory of political development.

-- Page 342

Amazing Quotes 23: Samuel P. Huntington, Political Order in Changing Societies

From Harvad Uni

Whenever we speak about "development," we think about GDP, economic growth, war against poverty, etc. Nice, but it neglects the fact that political development is also fundamentally important. To address this imbalance, Huntington wrote "Political Order and Changing Societies" in 1968. Until today, it is a classic, and many considered it his best work. Below are the best quotes from chapter 1 - 3 of that book:

Men may, of course, have order without liberty, but they cannot have liberty without order.

-- Page 7 - 8

They (the communists) may not provide liberty, but they do provide authority. They do create governments that can govern.

-- Page 8

More than by anything else, the modern state is distinguished from the traditional state by the broadened extent to which people participate in politics and are affected by politics in large-scale political units.

-- Page 36

It is not the absence of modernity but the efforts to achieve it which produce political disorder.

-- Page 41

The calling into question of old standards moreover, tends to undermine the legitimacy of all standards. The conflict between modern and traditional norms opens opportunities for individuals to act in ways justified by neither.

-- Page 60

In functions and power American presidents are Tudor Kings. In instituional role, as well as in personality and talents, Lyndon Johnson far more closely resembled Elizabeth I than did Elizabeth II. Britain preserved the form of the old monarchy, but America preserved the substance. Today America still has a king, Britain only a crown.

-- Page 115.

The assimilation of new Groups into the political system means, in effect, the expansion of the power of the political system.

-- Page 143.

Nineteenth-century monarchs modernized to thwart imperialism; twentieth-century monarchs modernize to thwart revolution.

-- Page 155

The legitimacy of the reforms depends on the authority of the monarch. But the legitimacy of the political system in the long run depends upon the participation within it of a broader range of social groups.

-- Page 167

The more vigorously a monarch exercises authority, the more difficult it is to transfer that authority to another institution.

-- Page 179

Amazing Quotes 22: Samuel P. Huntington, The Soldier and The State

One of the most impressive work of Huntington is "The Soldier and The State." This book analyzes the relationship between military profession and politics. This book is ALWAYS referenced whenever anyone want to speak about military institution. Some of its best lines: 

This [military] professional bias, or sense of responsibility, leads him to feel that if he errs in his estimate, it should be on the side of overstating the threat. Consequently, at times he will see threats to the security of the state where actually no threats exists.

-- Page 66.

He [the military men] is afraid of war. He wants to prepare for war. But he is never ready to fight a war.

-- Page 69.

The military ethic is thus pessimistic, collectivist, historically inclined, power-oriented, nationalistic, miliatristic, pacifist, and instrumentalist in its view of the military profession. It is in, in brief, realistic and conservative.

-- Page 79.

… for the American a war is not a war unless it is a crusade.

-- Page 151

The trouble with the United States as a country was that „we are perhaps the least military, thought not behind the foremost as a warlike one.“

-- Page 221.

Military men criticized the rash and adventurous psychology, typified by the "On to Richmond" slogan of the Civil War radicals, and urged the primacy of prudence over courage and the necessity of accepting a "patient and costly defense." Some military men almost seemed to regret that the United States had “never known a Jena or Sedan“ to curb national arrogance and complacency.

-- Page 266

The professional officer exists in a world of grays. MacArthur's universe was one of blacks and whites and loud and clashing colors.

-- Page 370.

Speaking less and smiling more than MacArthur, he [Eisenhower] appeared the embodiment of consensus rather than controversy. MacArthur was a beacon, Eisenhower a mirror.

-- Page 370

The tension between the demands of military security and the values of American liberalism can, in the long run, be relieved only by the weakening of the security threat or the weakening of liberalism.

-- Page 456

Amazing Quotes 21: Samuel P. Huntington

From: wikipedia

We have tons of intellectuals during the 2nd half of 20th century. One of the most influential one is Samuel P. Huntington (1927 - 2008). Everyone, even laymen, know him thanks to his book "The Clash of Civilization." That is a pity, because that book is weak in comparison with his other book like "The Soldier and the State" or "Political Order in Changing Societies." Nevertheless, we can get tons of powerful quotes from him. Here are some of his most remembered quotes:

"Graduate students, are more reluctant to challenge this or that professor and have been captured by jargon and orthodoxy of the discipline."

If a scholar has nothing new to say he should keep quiet.”

"The quest for truths is synonymous with intellectual controversy."

The architects of power in the US must create a force that can be felt but not seen. Power remains strong when it remains in the dark; exposed to the sunlight, it begins to evaporate.

-- In “American Politics: The Promise of Disharmony” (1983) p. 75.

A world without U.S. primacy will be a world with more violence and disorder and less democracy and economic growth than a world where the United States continues to have more influence than any other country in shaping global affairs. The sustained international primacy of the United States is central to the welfare and security of Americans and to the future of freedom, democracy, open economies, and international order in the world.

-- "Why International Primacy Matters," International Security (Spring 1993):83.

The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion, but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.

-- “The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order“ (1996) p. 51.

The Economist identified 32 major conflicts going on in the world in the year 2000, and if you look at those 32 conflicts more than two-thirds involve Muslims fighting other Muslims or Muslims fighting non-Muslims

--In the conversation with Anthony Giddens, Fall 2003, published by “New Perspectives Quarterly”

Amazing Quotes 20: Ingersoll pt. 3

Atheists are wrong. There is a God. Ingersoll is the God of quotation. He is so good that I decided to put this 3rd list of his superb quotations. Yes this is my third list, here are the first and the second:

As long as every question is answered by the word "God," scientific inquiry is simply impossible.

-- "The Gods" (1872)

"Heresy is a cradle; orthodoxy a coffin."

-- "Heretics and Herecies" (1874)

I do not believe there is any being in this universe who gives rain for praise, who gives sunshine for prayer, or who blesses a man simply because he kneels.

-- "Some Reasons Why" (1881)

In all ages hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns on the heads of thieves, called kings.

--Robert Green Ingersoll (1884), quoted from Herman E Kittredge, A Biographical Appreciation of Robert Green Ingersoll, Chapter XII

The clergy know that I know that they know that they do not know.

--Robert Green Ingersoll, "Orthodoxy" (1884)

It seems to me impossible for a civilized man to love or worship, or respect the God of the Old Testament. A really civilized man, a really civilized woman, must hold such a God in abhorrence and contempt.

-- "Why I am an Agnostic" (1896)

It is told that the great Angelo, in decorating a church, painted some angels wearing sandals. A cardinal looking at the picture said to the artist: "Whoever saw angels with sandals?" Angelo answered with another question: "Whoever saw an angel barefooted?"

-- "Superstition" (1898)

Amazing Quotes 19: Simplicity

I think simplicity is one of things that is overlooked by intellectuals. Since many "intellectuals" don't want to educate anyone, only want to show-off how smart they are, no surprise tons of them acted like this. Their idea is: saying complicated things made them look smarter! Nope, just check some of these true intellectuals, they love simplicity.

"Other things being equal, a simpler explanation is better than a more complex one."

-- Ockham's Razor

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

-- Leonardo da Vinci

"Nature is pleased with simplicity, and nature is no dummy."

-- Isaac Newton

"There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth."

-- Leo Tolstoy 

"One should use common words to say uncommon things."

-- Arthur Schopenhauer

"If you can't explain something to a first year student, then you haven't understood it."

-- Richard Feynman

"Keep it simple, but not simpler!"

-- Albert Einstein

"The greatest ideas are the simplest."

-- William Golding in Lord of the Flies

"Living simply makes loving simple."

-- Bell Hooks

Amazing Quotes 18: Money!

Money doesn't look complicated. It is a tool to buy something. It is a tool to count your ability to acquire new property. Why so many people are so crazy about it? Maybe these masters could help. One of them even have his face printed on money!

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.

-- Alexis de Tocqueville

He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.

-- Benjamin Franklin

The lack of money is the root of all evil.

-- Mark Twain

Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind?

-- Robert Green Ingersoll, "Some Mistakes of Moses" (1879)

“While money can't buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery.”

-- Groucho Marx

Money is the most important thing in the world. It represents health, strength, honor, generosity and beauty as conspicuously as the want of it represents illness, weakness, disgrace, meanness and ugliness.

-- George Bernard Shaw 

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”

-- Franklin D. Roosevelt

“If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.”

-- Dorothy Parker

“Making money isn't hard in itself... What's hard is to earn it doing something worth devoting one's life to.”

-- Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind

Friendship and money: oil and water.

-- Mario Puzo

Amazing Quotes 17: the Bible

Ah, the Bible, the holy scriptures of Christianity. Revered by so many, but turned off so many too. These are some of my favorite quotes about the Bible:

If your Bible is an argument for the degradation of woman, and the abuse by whipping of little children, I advise you to put it away, and use your common sense instead.

--Lucy N. Colman (The Truth Seeker, March 5, 1887)

So the choice before us is simple: we can either have a 21st century conversation about ethics—availing ourselves of all the arguments and scientific insights that have accumulated in the last 2,000 years of human discourse—or we can confine ourselves to a first century conversation as it is preserved in the bible.

--Sam Harris in his response to readers & criticisms

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means.

--George Bernard Shaw

According to the Bible, God had never revealed himself to these people and he knew that without a revelation they could not know that he was the true God. Whose fault was it then that they were heathen?

--Robert G. Ingersoll "Why I am an Agnostic" (1896)

"There was no place in the land where the seeker could not find some small budding sign of pity for the slave. No place in all the land but one-- the pulpit. It yielded last; it always does. It fought a strong and stubborn fight, and then did what it always does, joined the procession-- at the tail end. Slavery fell. The slavery texts in the Bible remained; the practice changed; that was all."

--"Mark Twain and the Three R's, by Maxwell Geismar, p.109

"The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision."

--Lynn Lavner

Amazing Quotes 16

Other than awesome quotations from awesome people, sometimes I found some written by my friends, a youtube user, and other laymen. Maybe some of them were stated by a famous person, but who knows? Here are some of them:

“Jede Wahrheit braucht einen Mutigen der sie ausspricht”

“Every truth needs a brave lad to say it“

"If god doesn't like the way I live, Let him tell me, not you!"

“Several thousand years ago, a small tribe of ignorant near-savages wrote various collections of myths, wild tales, lies, and gibberish. Over the centuries, these stories were embroidered, garbled, mutilated, and torn into small pieces that were then repeatedly shuffled. Finally, this material was badly translated into several languages successively. The resultant text, creationists feel, is the best guide to this complex and technical subject.“

“To the philosophic eye, the vices of the clergy are far less dangerous than their virtues.“

"I am treated as evil by those who feel persecuted because they are not allowed to force me to believe as they do."

"A society without religion is like a crazed psychopath without a .45."

"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned."

"Christian Fundamentalism: The doctrine that there is an absolutely powerful, infinitely knowledgeable, universe spanning entity that is deeply and personally concerned about my sex life."

"Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."

“War does not determine who is right, war determines who is left.”

Amazing Quotes 15: Fear & Bravery

One of the basic instinct of any organism is fear. Here is the collection of fantastic analysis of fear & bravery:

"Only a fool isn't frightened when there's danger. But only brave men do what must be done despite their fear."

-- High Prince Roelstra in "Dragon Prince" 

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.

-- Thomas Jefferson

"Fear paralyzes the brain. Progress is born of courage. Fear believes courage doubts. Fear falls upon the earth and prays courage stands erect and thinks. Fear retreats courage advances. Fear is barbarism courage is civilization. Fear believes in witchcraft, in devils and in ghosts. Fear is religion courage is science."

-- Robert Green Ingersoll,"The Ghosts", 1877

We want to stand upon our own feet and look fair and square at the world -- its good facts, its bad facts, its beauties, and its ugliness; see the world as it is and be not afraid of it.

-- Bertrand Russel, "Why I am not a Christian" (1927)

Man gives every reason for his conduct save one, every excuse for his crimes save one, every plea for his safety save one; and that one is his cowardice.

-- George Bernard Shaw

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

-- Albert Einstein

Amazing Quotes 14: Ingersoll pt 2

I already put some awesome quotes from Robert Green Ingersoll. But damn, he is so good that I still have PLENTY of such quotes from him:

We are satisfied that there can be but little liberty on earth while men worship a tyrant in heaven.

-- "The Gods" (1872)

"The intellectual advancement of man depends on how often he can exchange an old superstition for a new truth."

-- "The Gods" (1872)

God did not reward men for being honest, generous and brave, but for the act of faith. Without faith, all the so-called virtues were sins. and the men who practiced these virtues, without faith, deserved to suffer eternal pain.

-- "Why I am an agnostic" (1896)

If there be gods we cannot help them, but we can assist our fellow-men. We cannot love the inconceivable, but we can love wife and child and friend.

-- "Why I am an Agnostic" (1896)

WHOEVER has an opinion of his own, and honestly expresses it, will be guilty of heresy. Heresy is what the minority believe; it is the name given by the powerful to the doctrine of the weak. This word was born of the hatred, arrogance and cruelty of those who love their enemies, and who, when smitten on one cheek, turn the other.

--"Heretics and Herecies" (1874)

Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind?

-- "Some Mistakes of Moses" (1879)

It is amazing to me that a difference of opinion upon subjects that we know nothing with certainty about, should make us hate, persecute, and despise each other.

-- "Some Mistakes of Moses" (1879)

Until every soul is freely permitted to investigate every book, and creed, and dogma for itself, the world cannot be free.

--Robert Green Ingersoll, "Some Mistakes of Moses" (1879)

Amazing Quotes 13: Faith

Pop quiz, if you don't have anything to be proud of, what should you do?

If you are a fundamentalist from ANY religion, there is an easy solution: you boast that you have faith! Yes, faith! Faith  per se is a good thing to be boasted! 

Err ... no guys, it doesn't work that way. See how these masters ridiculed "faith":

"Faith: not wanting to know what is true.“

-- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

God did not reward men for being honest, generous and brave, but for the act of faith. Without faith, all the so-called virtues were sins. and the men who practiced these virtues, without faith, deserved to suffer eternal pain.

--Robert G. Ingersoll "Why I am an agnostic" (1896)

"Faith is often the boast of the man who is too lazy to investigate." 

-- F. M. Knowles

“A Faith that cannot survive collision with the truth is not worth many regrets.”

-- Arthur C. Clarke

"I've often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying 'This is fiction.' I mean, walking on water? It takes... an act of faith. And I have faith in this movie — not that it's true, not that it's factual, but that it's a jolly good story."

-- Sir Ian McKellen, speaking about “The Da Vinci Code“

“When we have reasons for what we believe, we have no need of faith; when we have no reasons, or bad ones, we have lost our connection to the world and to one another.“

-- Sam Harris in An Atheist Manifesto

Amazing Quotes 12: Death

One of the most basic fear any man or woman has is the fear of death. Predictable. A suicidal person who disregard death usually dies young before they can pass their genes to the next generation. Nevertheless, some great thoughts were put about this topic. These are some of the best quotes about death ... 

"Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is. I am not. Why should I fear that which cannot exist when I do?"

--Epicurus

Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.

--Voltaire

"I have little confidence in any enterprise or business or investment that promises dividends only after the death of the stockholders."

--Robert Green Ingersoll, "A Wooden God" letter to the Chicago Times, March 27, 1890

In the New Testament, death is not the end, but the beginning of punishment that has no end. In the New Testament the malice of God is infinite and the hunger of his revenge eternal.

--Robert G. Ingersoll, "Why I am an Agnostic"

I say, that no man can be greater than the man who bravely and heroically sacrifices his life for the good of others. No man can be greater than the one who meets death face to face, and yet will not shrink from what he believes to be his highest duty.

--Robert Green Ingersoll, "Colored People"

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

--Albert Einstein

"The idea of a good society is something you do not need a religion and eternal punishment to buttress; you need a religion if you are terrified of death."

--Gore Vidal

I'm completely in favor of the separation of church and state. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

--George Carlin

Amazing Quotes 11: Knowledge

Ah ... knowledge, one of the most fundamental thing in our life! arguably, it is the one that differentiate us from mere animals. Here are fantastic quotes about knowledge:

“The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance.”

-- Benjamin Franklin

'We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. '

-- Benjamin Franklin

"Faith: not wanting to know what is true."

-- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

"Our ignorance is God; what we know is science."

-- Robert G. Ingersoll, "The Gods", 1872

"Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes.... A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men."

-- Bertrand Russel in his essay "Why I am not a Christian"

"Why should we take advice on sex from the pope? If he knows anything about it, he shouldn't!"

-- George Bernard Shaw

"If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them."

-- Isaac Asimov

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

-- Stephen Hawking

Amazing Quotes 10: Power

9th of September is the biggest wakeup call to all of us, for so many different things, for so many different reasons. Everything is for "power" ... here is some terrific quotes about power ...

"Men have never fully used [their] powers to advance the good in life, because they have waited upon some power external to themselves and to nature to do the work they are responsible for doing."

--John Dewey

"If you want to test a man's character, give him power."

-- Abraham Lincoln

If Christ had the power to defend himself from the Jews and refused to use it, he was guilty of suicide.

-- Dennis Diderot

America in 1939 – 1941 wanted neither world power nor world responsibility, only to be let alone; but world power and world responsibility were forced upon her by the two nations, Germany and Japan, that badly wanted both.

-- Samuel Eliot Morison

"Today, not only in peasant homes but also in city skyscrapers, there lives alongside of the twentieth century the tenth or the thirteenth. A hundred million people use electricity and still believe in the magic power of signs and exorcisms. The Pope of Rome broadcasts over the radio about the miraculous transformation of water into wine. Movie stars go to mediums. Aviators who pilot miraculous mechanisms created by man's genius wear amulets on their sweaters. What inexhaustible reserves they possess of darkness, ignorance, and savagery!"

-- Leon Trotsky

"The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master unless he turns might into right and obedience into duty."

-- Rousseau

The architects of power in the US must create a force that can be felt but not seen. Power remains strong when it remains in the dark; exposed to the sunlight, it begins to evaporate.

-- Samuel P. Huntington in “American Politics: The Promise of Disharmony” p. 75.

Amazing Quotes 9: Mark Twain

Mark Twain is one of the literary genius that come from the US. Naturally, he has a habit spouting cool quotes. You can see at the bottom of this blog, I already put Mark Twain's quote generator. Some of his bests are:

"When in doubt, do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."

"The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out, the conservative adopts them."

"A man is accepted into church for what he believes and turned out for what he knows."

"If there is a God, he is a malign thug."

"It ain't the parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

"Blasphemy? No, it is not blasphemy. If God is as vast as that, he is above blasphemy; if He is as little as that, He is beneath it."

"What an organ is human speech when it is employed by a master!"
-- Speaking about Robert Green Ingersoll

Amazing Quotes 8: George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw was one of the most productive man in terms of spouting awesome one-liner. Or sometimes 2-or-3 liners ...

Just check some of his sayings:

“A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.“

“Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people.“

“All censorships exist to prevent any one from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorships.“

“All great truths begin as blasphemies.“

“Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.“

“Disobedience, the rarest and most courageous of the virtues, is seldom distinguished from neglect, the laziest and commonest of the vices.“

“Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated."

“Martyrdom: The only way a man can become famous without ability.“

“No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means.“

“Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.“

“Why should we take advice on sex from the pope? If he knows anything about it, he shouldn't!“