That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject.

Quote by George Santayana

Topics: George Santayana Quotes

The highest form of vanity is love of fame.

The highest form of vanity is love of fame.

Oaths are the fossils of piety.

Oaths are the fossils of piety.

Before you contradict an old man, my fair friend, you should endeavor to understand him.

Before you contradict an old man, my fair friend, you should endeavor to understand him.

I like to walk about among the beautiful things that adorn the world; but private...

I like to walk about among the beautiful things that adorn the world; but private...

Sanity is a madness put to good use.

Sanity is a madness put to good use.

Depression is rage spread thin.

Depression is rage spread thin.

The quality of wit inspires more admiration than confidence

The quality of wit inspires more admiration than confidence

Words are weapons, and it is dangerous in speculation, as in politics, to borrow them...

Words are weapons, and it is dangerous in speculation, as in politics, to borrow them...

The world is not respectable; it is mortal, tormented, confused, deluded forever; but it is...

The world is not respectable; it is mortal, tormented, confused, deluded forever; but it is...

Nonsense is so good only because common sense is so limited

Nonsense is so good only because common sense is so limited

To fight is a radical instinct; if men have nothing else to fight over they...

To fight is a radical instinct; if men have nothing else to fight over they...

All living souls welcome whatever they are ready to cope with; all else they ignore,...

All living souls welcome whatever they are ready to cope with; all else they ignore,...

The effort of art is to keep what is interesting in existence, to recreate it...

The effort of art is to keep what is interesting in existence, to recreate it...

The lover knows much more about absolute good and universal beauty than any logician or...

The lover knows much more about absolute good and universal beauty than any logician or...

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to...

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to...

Let a man once overcome his selfish terror at his own finitude, and his finitude...

Let a man once overcome his selfish terror at his own finitude, and his finitude...

For a man who has done his natural duty, death is as natural as sleep.

For a man who has done his natural duty, death is as natural as sleep.

Oxford, the paradise of dead philosophies.

Oxford, the paradise of dead philosophies.

Fun is a good thing but only when it spoils nothing better.

Fun is a good thing but only when it spoils nothing better.

To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what...

To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what...