Sam Harris Quotes

We're all puppets, Laurie. I'm just a puppet who can see the strings.

You can maintain power over people, as long as you give them something. Rob a man of everything, and that man will no longer be in your power.

Compatibilism amounts to nothing more than an assertion of the following creed: A puppet is free as long as he loves his strings.

Thou shalt be free As mountain winds: but then exactly do All points of my command.

Man is to be held only by the slightest chains; with the idea that he can break them at pleasure, he submits to them in sport.

Power said to the world, "You are mine." The world kept it prisoner on her throne. Love said to the world, "I am thine." The world gave it the freedom of her house.

Freedom is only granted us that obedience may be more perfect.

I may command where I adore.

A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.

What we want is not freedom but its appearances.

Whether the institution to be defended is slavery, political absolutism, or the absolutism of the head of a family, we are always expected to judge of it from its best instances; and we are presented with pictures of loving exercise of authority on one side, loving submission to it on the other

He who saith “thou shalt” to me is my mortal foe.

I've never been able to accept any kind of discipline.

I've worked with a lot of wooden actors in my day, but Pinocchio is the best.

The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.

Every ruler should strive for his people to love him. But if they cannot love you, then make them fear you. Love is better, but fear will do the job.

Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.

From my point of view, compatibilism is a little like saying: a puppet is free so long as it loves its strings.

Every step into freedom contains within it the potential for greater bondage.

Put your puppet on the throne." said Talathain. "You may make her Queen but she won’t be Queen for long.

Always late: thus I make you the prisoner of my freedom.

You can't be loved for long if you're not feared.

But as it falleth, in the gentlest hearts Imperious love hath highest set his throne, And tyrannizeth in the bitter smarts Of them, that to him buxom are and prone.

I ask for so little.Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave

So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find someone to worship.