Eric Hoffer
Eric Hoffer
Eric Hofferwas an American moral and social philosopher. He was the author of ten books and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in February 1983. His first book, The True Believer, was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim from both scholars and laymen, although Hoffer believed that The Ordeal of Change was his finest work...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth25 July 1902
CountryUnited States of America
Eric Hoffer quotes about
frustration confusion want
Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing.
loneliness failure being-alone
There is no loneliness greater than the loneliness of a failure. The failure is a stranger in his own house.
belief realizing believer
It is startling to realize how much unbelief is necessary to make belief possible.
movement corporations racket
What starts out here as a mass movement ends up as a racket, a cult, or a corporation.
woe doe conformity
Nonconformists travel as a rule in bunches. You rarely find a nonconformist who goes it alone. And woe to him inside a nonconformist clique who does not conform with nonconformity.
tomorrow terrorism terror
Death has but one terror, that it has no tomorrow.
humor deep-thought degenerates
Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.
majority life-is busy
The majority prove their worth by keeping busy. A busy life is the nearest thing to a purposeful life.
positive prelude
Anger is a prelude to courage.
dissent disagreement
The beginning of thought is in disagreement - not only with others but also with ourselves.
hater nature angel
The savior who wants to turn men into angels is as much a hater of human nature as the totalitarian despot who wants to turn them into puppets.
novelty news bad-news
To the old, the new is usually bad news.
equality excellence matter
We clamor for equality chiefly in matters in which we ourselves cannot hope to obtain excellence.
modernism industry modernity
When you automate an industry you modernize it; when you automate a life you primitivize it.