If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves, it is because self-knowledge is painful and we prefer the pleasures of illusion.

Quote by Aldous Huxley

Topics: Self Knowledge Quotes

Feasts must be solemn and rare, or else they cease to be feasts.

Feasts must be solemn and rare, or else they cease to be feasts.

Every man's memory is his private literature.

Every man's memory is his private literature.

That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most...

That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most...

Perhaps it's good for one to suffer. Can an artist do anything if he's happy?...

Perhaps it's good for one to suffer. Can an artist do anything if he's happy?...

Like every man of sense and good feeling, I abominate work.

Like every man of sense and good feeling, I abominate work.

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and...

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and...

Experience teaches only the teachable.

Experience teaches only the teachable.

Man is an intelligence in servitude to his organs.

Man is an intelligence in servitude to his organs.

There is no bad day that cant be overcome by listening to a barbershop quartet....

There is no bad day that cant be overcome by listening to a barbershop quartet....

Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.

Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.

Writers write to influence their readers, their preachers, their auditors, but always, at bottom, to...

Writers write to influence their readers, their preachers, their auditors, but always, at bottom, to...

From their experience or from the recorded experience of others (history), men learn only what...

From their experience or from the recorded experience of others (history), men learn only what...

All gods are homemade, and it is we who pull their strings, and so, give...

All gods are homemade, and it is we who pull their strings, and so, give...

Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.

Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.

Chastity - the most unnatural of all the sexual perversions.

Chastity - the most unnatural of all the sexual perversions.

Speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.

Speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.

It's with bad sentiments that one makes good novels.

It's with bad sentiments that one makes good novels.

The finest works of art are precious, among other reasons, because they make it possible...

The finest works of art are precious, among other reasons, because they make it possible...

Everyone who wants to do good to the human race always ends in universal bullying.

Everyone who wants to do good to the human race always ends in universal bullying.

Amour is the one human activity of any importance in which laughter and pleasure preponderate,...

Amour is the one human activity of any importance in which laughter and pleasure preponderate,...