William Godwin
William Godwin
William Godwinwas an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and the first modern proponent of anarchism. Godwin is most famous for two books that he published within the space of a year: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, an attack on political institutions, and Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams, which attacks aristocratic privilege, but also is the first mystery novel. Based on the success of both,...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth3 March 1756
William Godwin quotes about
ardent attributes believer best brethren cherish creed deity disdain dress easy excellent gladly human interest lived love men mysteries observe opposite perceive profess regard
I know many men who are misanthropes, and profess to look down with disdain on their species. My creed is of an opposite character. All that we observe that is best and most excellent in the intellectual world, is man: and it is easy to perceive in many cases, that the believer in mysteries does little more, than dress up his deity in the choicest of human attributes and qualifications. I have lived among, and I feel an ardent interest in and love for, my brethren of mankind. This sentiment, which I regard with complacency in my own breast, I would gladly cherish in others.
detect juggler might state strong understanding
Once annihilate the quackery of government, and the most homebred understanding might be strong enough to detect the artifices of the state juggler that would mislead him.
adversary genius learning proper reads scarcely
Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius . . . he who reads in a proper spirit, can scarcely read too much.
genuine happiness looks proportion unless
How can any one have genuine happiness, unless in proportion as he looks round, and, "behold, every thing is very good?
abstract business depraved impossible innocent man martyrs offended question seems soldier unnatural whatever whose
A soldier is a man whose business it is to kill those who never offended him, and who are the innocent martyrs of other men's iniquities. Whatever may become of the abstract question of the justifiableness of war, it seems impossible that the soldier should not be a depraved and unnatural thing.
books books-and-reading considered depends derive generation handed impression inspire love medium merciless mind otherwise piety represent seems teachers temper true tyrannical
Books have been handed down from generation to generation, as the true teachers of piety and the love of God, that represent him as so merciless and tyrannical a despot, that, if they were considered otherwise than through the medium of prejudice, they could inspire nothing but hatred. It seems that the impression we derive from a book, depends much less on its real contents, than upon the temper of mind and preparation with which we read it.
strong doubt purpose
If he who employs coercion against me could mould me to his purposes by argument, no doubt he would. He pretends to punish me because his argument is strong; but he really punishes me because his argument is weak.
revolution tyranny indignation
Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny.
teacher fall government
As long as parents and teachers in general shall fall under the established rule, it is clear that politics and modes of government will educate and infect us all. They poison our minds, before we can resist, or so much as suspect their malignity. Like the barbarous directors of the Eastern seraglios, they deprive us of our vitality, and fit us for their despicable employment from the cradle.
philosophy men wisest-man
The philosophy of the wisest man that ever existed, is mainly derived from the act of introspection.
passion revolution quiet
Revolutions are the produce of passion, not of sober and tranquil reason.
wise men satisfied
The wise man is satisfied with nothing.
able bears imagine
No maxim can be more pernicious than that which would teach us to consult the temper of the times, and to tell only so much as we imagine our contemporaries will be able to bear.
virtue capacity humans
The virtue of a human being is the application of his capacity to the general good.