Quote #86

Since human power in controlling the emotions consists solely in the understanding, it follows that no one rejoices in blessedness, because he has controlled his lusts, but, contrariwise, his power of controlling his lusts arises from this blessedness itself.

More from Baruch Spinoza

  1. Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue itself; neither do we rejoice therein, because we control our lusts, but, contrariwise,…
  2. The ignorant man is not only distracted in various ways by external causes without ever gaining the true acquiescence of his spirit, but mo…
  3. Most people seem to believe that they are free, in so far as they may obey their lusts, and that they cede their rights, in so far as they …
  4. Time carries him as the river carries A leaf in the downstream water. No matter. The enchanted one insists And shapes God with delicate geo…
  5. He, who possesses a body capable of the greatest number of activities, possesses a mind whereof the greatest part is eternal.
  6. Of Bruno, as of Spinoza, it may be said that he was 'God-intoxicated.' He felt that the Divine Excellence had its abode in the very heart o…
  7. Whatsoever the mind understands under the form of eternity, it does not understand by virtue of conceiving the present actual existence of …
  8. Spinoza is, for me, the prince of philosophers.

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