Irish philosopher (1685-1753)
Every individuality is at bottom only a special error.
GEORGE BERKELEY
A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
No theory of the soul, as we know the soul in philosophy, is entitled to respect, which ignores or diminishes the reality of the personal union into which it has taken the body with itself, a union the most consummate and absolute of which we know, or of which we can conceive, infinitely transcending the completeness of the most perfect mechanical and chemical unions--a union so complete that, though two distinct substances are involved in it, it makes them, through a wide range of observations, as completely one to us as if they were one substance; so that we can say the human body does nothing proper to it without the soul, the human soul does nothing proper to it without the body.
GEORGE BERKELEY
A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
There are two parts in our nature, the baser, which consists of our senses and passions, and the more noble and rational, which is properly the human part, the other being common to us with brutes.
GEORGE BERKELEY
The Works of George Berkeley
Take away the signs from Arithmetic and Algebra, and pray what remains?
GEORGE BERKELEY
Philosophical Commentaries
A mind at liberty to reflect on its own observations, if it produce nothing useful to the world, seldom fails of entertainment to itself.
GEORGE BERKELEY
The Works of George Berkeley
It is impossible a man who is false to his friends and neighbours should be true to the public.
GEORGE BERKELEY
"Maxims Concerning Patriotism", Works
That thing of hell and eternal punishment is the most absurd, as well as the most disagreeable thought that ever entered into the head of mortal man.
GEORGE BERKELEY
The Works of George Berkeley
He that always blames, or always praises, is no patriot.
GEORGE BERKELEY
"Maxims Concerning Patriotism", Works
To one who regards things with a philosophical eye, and hath a soul capable of being delighted with the sense that truth and knowledge prevail among men, it must be a grateful reflection to think that the sublimest truths, which among the heathens only here and there one of brighter parts and more leisure than ordinary could attain to, are now grown familiar to the meanest inhabitants of these nations.
GEORGE BERKELEY
The Works of George Berkeley
Whenever I attempt to frame a simple idea of time, abstracted from the succession of ideas in my mind, which flows uniformly, and is participated by all beings, I am lost and embrangled in inextricable difficulties.
GEORGE BERKELEY
A New Theory of Vision and Other Select Philosophical Writings
What the bad man most fears is certain to come to him--that is death. It is just as certain to the good man, but to him it is welcome.
GEORGE BERKELEY
A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
I have always observed, that a rake who is a minute philosopher, when grown old, becomes a sharper in business.
GEORGE BERKELEY
Alciphron; or, The Minute Philosopher in Seven Dialogues
It is impossible to understand the weakness of a system without understanding its strength.
GEORGE BERKELEY
A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge
I might as well doubt of my own being, as of the being of those things I actually see and feel.
GEORGE BERKELEY
Works
Disputes are not to be decided by the weight of authority, but by the force of reason.
GEORGE BERKELEY
The Works of George Berkeley
Many things, for aught I know, may exist, whereof neither I nor any other man hath or can have any idea or notion whatsoever.
GEORGE BERKELEY
Philosophical Works
Truth is the cry of all, but the game of the few.
GEORGE BERKELEY
Siris
Religion is the centre which unites, and the cement which connects the several parts of members of the political body.
GEORGE BERKELEY
A Discourse Addressed to Magistrates and Men in Authority
God is a being of transcendent and unlimited perfections: his nature therefore is incomprehensible to finite spirits.
GEORGE BERKELEY
A New Theory of Vision and Other Select Philosophical Writings
Our youth we can have but to-day,
We may always find time to grow old.
GEORGE BERKELEY
Can Love be controlled by Advice?