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
How can any one have genuine happiness, unless in proportion as he looks round, and, "behold, every thing is very good?
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.
Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny.
The virtue of a human being is the application of his capacity to the general good.
There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually witness.
Perseverance is an active principle, and cannot continue to operate but under the influence of desire.
The subtleties of mathematics defecate the grossness of our apprehension, and supply the elements of a sounder and severer logic.
He that revels in a well-chosen library has inumerable dishes, and all of admirable flavor.
My mind was bursting with depression and anguish. I muttered imprecations and murmuring as I passed along. I was full of loathing and abhorrence of life, and all that life carries in its train.
But the watchful care of the parent is endless. The youth is never free from the danger of grating interference.
The execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation.
Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius... he who reads in a proper spirit, can scarcely read too much.
God himself has no right to be a tyrant.
Perfectibility is one of the most unequivocal characteristics of the human species.