„Wir denken wie wir denken hauptsächlich, weil andere so denken.“
Notebooks, 1912
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Zitate von Samuel Butler d.J.
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Samuel Butler d.J.
Geburtstag: 4. Dezember 1835
Todesdatum: 18. Juni 1902
Samuel Butler war ein britischer Schriftsteller, Komponist, Philologe, Maler und Gelehrter.
Photo: Unknown author, GHP2@yahoogroups.com / Public domain
Zitate Samuel Butler d.J.
„Aller Fortschritt beruht auf dem allgemeinen inneren Wunsch eines jeden Organismus, über sein Einkommen hinaus zu leben.“
Notebooks, 1912
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„Der beste Lügner ist der, der mit den wenigsten Lügen am längsten auskommt.“
Der Weg allen Fleisches 1903, 39
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„Die Welt wird letztlich nur denen folgen, die sie verachten - und ihr dienen.“
Notebooks
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„Ein Liebespaar ist wie Sonnenaufgang und -untergang; es gibt sie alle Tage, aber wir sehen sie selten.“
Der Weg allen Fleisches, 1903, 11
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„Es ist viel sicherer, zu wenig als zu viel zu wissen.“
Der Weg allen Fleisches, 1903, 5
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„Freundschaft ist wie Geld, leichter gewonnen als erhalten.“
Notebooks, 1912
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„Für sich selbst ist jeder unsterblich; er mag wissen, dass er sterben muss, aber er kann nie wissen, dass er tot ist.“
Notebooks, 1912
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„Nicht Worte sollen wir lesen, sondern den Menschen, den wir hinter den Worten fühlen.“
Notebooks
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„Alle Lebewesen außer dem Menschen wissen, dass der Hauptzweck des Lebens darin besteht, es zu genießen.“
Der Weg allen Fleisches. Roman, postum 1903. Übersetzt und mit Anmerkungen versehen von Helmut Findeisen. dtv Klassik, München 1991, ISBN 3-423-02240-X, 19. Kapitel.
(Original en: "All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it." - The Way of All Flesh", Wikisource, chapter 19.
„An idea must not be condemned for being a little shy and incoherent; all new ideas are shy when introduced first among our old ones.“
Incoherency of New Ideas
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912), Part XIV - Higgledy-Piggledy
Kontext: An idea must not be condemned for being a little shy and incoherent; all new ideas are shy when introduced first among our old ones. We should have patience and see whether the incoherency is likely to wear off or to wear on, in which latter case the sooner we get rid of them the better.
„The written law is binding, but the unwritten law is much more so.“
The Law
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912), Part VII - On the Making of Music, Pictures, and Books
Kontext: The written law is binding, but the unwritten law is much more so. You may break the written law at a pinch and on the sly if you can, but the unwritten law — which often comprises the written — must not be broken. Not being written, it is not always easy to know what it is, but this has got to be done.
„There is an eternal antagonism of interest between the individual and the world at large.“
The Individual and the World
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912), Part I - Lord, What is Man?
Kontext: There is an eternal antagonism of interest between the individual and the world at large. The individual will not so much care how much he may suffer in this world provided he can live in men’s good thoughts long after he has left it. The world at large does not so much care how much suffering the individual may either endure or cause in this life, provided he will take himself clean away out of men’s thoughts, whether for good or ill, when he has left it.
„If I were to start as a God or a prophet I think I should take the line: "Thou shalt not believe in me. Thou shalt not have me for a God.“
Samuel Butler's Notebooks (1912) self censored "d_____d" in original publication
Kontext: It is the manner of gods and prophets to begin: "Thou shalt have none other God or Prophet but me." If I were to start as a God or a prophet I think I should take the line: "Thou shalt not believe in me. Thou shalt not have me for a God. Thou shalt worship any d_____d thing thou likest except me." This should be my first and great commandment, and my second should be like unto it.
„As a general rule philosophy is like stirring mud or not letting a sleeping dog lie.“
Philosophy
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912), Part XX - First Principles
Kontext: As a general rule philosophy is like stirring mud or not letting a sleeping dog lie. It is an attempt to deny, circumvent or otherwise escape from the consequences of the interlacing of the roots of things with one another.
„I do not like having to try to make myself like things; I like things that make me like them at once and no trying at all.“
On Knowing what Gives us Pleasure, ii
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912), Part XIII - Unprofessional Sermons
Kontext: I should like to like Schumann’s music better than I do; I dare say I could make myself like it better if I tried; but I do not like having to try to make myself like things; I like things that make me like them at once and no trying at all.
