The Humanist's Top Ten Quotes Regarding Life
by Chris Volkay (e-mail: CVolkay@liberator.net) [October 30th, 2002]As Top Ten lists have been done on virtually every subject and issue, I thought it was time atheists got some much deserved and overdue representation. The following are my picks as to the most important and relevant quotes regarding humanism, humanity, and why the good old world in the shape it's in. So without further ado:
The Humanist's Top Ten quotes regarding Life
“What the world believes at any given moment is simply the prevailing popular opinion. And as nothing that stands today is either inherently or intrinsically so, all manner of currently held notions have the ability to be changed.”
My only question is...was sixth place for myself really fair.. Or did I deserve higher?
- Number 10, Samuel Butler:
"Man, unlike the animals, has never learned that the sole purpose of life is to enjoy it." We fell into this existence almost like thieves. It was never promised or ordained for us. The evolutionary miracle of miracles that we got to exist at all! And we promptly set about inventing all manner of things to bring ourselves the most misery humanly possible. Smooooooothe.- Number 9, David Russell:
"We live in a Newtonian world of Einsteinian psychics ruled by Frankenstein logic." Goodness gracious, how terribly unfair to Franky, I've always seen him as infinitely smarter than most.- Number 8, Mark Twain:
"In his private heart no man much respects himself." And how could he? From the time he is chewing on his pabulum he is told he is weak, low, sinning, dirty, offending, downright stinky, told this life is a mere dress rehearsal for something better, and in need of some kind of miraculous salvation. This is the way to engender excellence in humanity?- Number 7, Oscar Wilde:
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." You go boy!- Number 6, Chris Volkay, yours truly:
"We are all the unintentional designers of our own misery." My what gall, placing myself in this illustrious grouping! By creating expectations and paradigms of what we should do, should think and should achieve, we set ourselves up for lifelong disappointment and misery when we fail to live up to our fantasy lives.(Unless of course your Bond, ........James Bond)- Number 5, Ingmar Bergman:
"Everything is worth precisely as much as a belch, the difference being that a belch is more satisfying." What can I tell ya, I like his films.- Number 4, James Branch Cabell:
"MUNDIS VULT DECIPI" (The world wants to be deceived) And will pay handsomely for its deception. Poets, priests, politicians, psychics and psychoanalysts, among others, make pleasingly plump livings by simply telling people what they want to hear.- Number 3, William Shakespeare:
"Nothing is good or bad, but our thinking makes it so." Truly one of the most important concepts ever penned. What the world believes at any given moment is simply the prevailing popular opinion. And as nothing that stands today is either inherently or intrinsically so, all manner of currently held notions have the ability to be changed.- Number 2, Francis Bacon:
"Man prefers to believe what he prefers true." Sounds something like Shakespeare's sentiments, hey you don't think Bacon was actually Shakesp.....nah. Bacon's statement is really the short history of the world. Evolving into scary environs, man set about inventing a swirling dust cloud of illusions to ensconce himself from the harshness of life. Our job, should we choose to accept it altruistic brethren, is to enable people to see that fuller, richer lives await them here and now should they opt to break free from their various dream worlds of illusion.- And the Number One Top Ten Humanist quote regarding Life, Ta da ta da...Mark Twain:
"Such is the human race...often it does seem such a pity that Noah...didn't miss the boat." And who can argue with that?Resources and Avenues for Further Study
Google Directory: Society: Religion and Spirituality: Humanism