Expressions of the wisdom tradition
quotations by leaders, scientists and reformers
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"A HUMAN being is part of a whole, called by us the "universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few people near us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
— Albert Einstein
Einstein kept a copy of Mme Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine by his bed; his well annotated copy is at the Theosophical Society's Adyar Centre in India.
"Theosophy is the brotherhood of man.
Theosophy is the teaching of Madame Blavatsky.
It is Hinduism at its best."
— Gandhi
"My study of Gandhi convinced me that true pacifism is not non-resistance to evil, but non-violent resistance to evil. Between the two positions, there is a world of difference. Gandhi resisted evil with as much vigour and power as the violent resister, but he resisted with love instead of hate.
True pacifism is not unrealistic submission to evil power.
It is rather a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love, in faith that it is better to be the recipient of violence than the inflicter of it, since the latter only multiplies the existence of violence and bitterness in the universe while the former may develop a sense of shame in the opponent, and thereby bring about a transformation and change of heart."
— Martin Luther King
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"Nothing is certain, not even that."
— Arcesilaus, of Plato's Academy 3rd c. BCE
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