I have suffered a great deal from writers who have quoted this or that sentence of mine either out of its context or in juxtaposition to some incongruous matter which quite distorted my meaning , or destroyed it altogether.

Quote by Alfred North Whitehead

Topics: Writers Quotes

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise...

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise...

Periods of tranquility are seldom prolific of creative achievement. Mankind has to be stirred up.

Periods of tranquility are seldom prolific of creative achievement. Mankind has to be stirred up.

The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.

The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.

Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking...

Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking...

Every philosophy is tinged with the coloring of some secret imaginative background, which never emerges...

Every philosophy is tinged with the coloring of some secret imaginative background, which never emerges...

Wisdom alone is true ambition's aim, wisdom is the source of virtue and of fame;...

Wisdom alone is true ambition's aim, wisdom is the source of virtue and of fame;...

Common sense is genius in homespun.

Common sense is genius in homespun.

Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of infinitude we are surrounded...

Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of infinitude we are surrounded...

Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise

Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise

Fundamental progress has to do with the reinterpretation of basic ideas.

Fundamental progress has to do with the reinterpretation of basic ideas.

In formal logic, a contradiction is the signal of defeat, but in the evolution of...

In formal logic, a contradiction is the signal of defeat, but in the evolution of...

The total absence of humor from the Bible is one of the most singular things...

The total absence of humor from the Bible is one of the most singular things...

The absolute pacifist is a bad citizen; times come when force must be used to...

The absolute pacifist is a bad citizen; times come when force must be used to...

Intelligence is quickness to apprehend as distinct from ability, which is capacity to act wisely...

Intelligence is quickness to apprehend as distinct from ability, which is capacity to act wisely...

Knowledge shrinks as wisdom grows.

Knowledge shrinks as wisdom grows.

If a dog jumps into your lap, it is because he is fond of you;...

If a dog jumps into your lap, it is because he is fond of you;...

It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious.

It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious.

Civilizations can only be understood by those who are civilized.

Civilizations can only be understood by those who are civilized.

Without adventure civilization is in full decay.

Without adventure civilization is in full decay.

We think in generalities, but we live in detail.

We think in generalities, but we live in detail.