George Berkeley Quotes

All thought of something is at the same time self-consciousness [...] At the root of all our experiences and all our reflections, we find [...] a being which immediately recognises itself, [...] and which knows its own existence, not by observation and as a given fact, nor by inference from any idea of itself, but through direct contact with that existence. Self-consciousness is the very being of mind in action.

Consciousness is indeed always with us. Everyone knows 'I am!' No one can deny his own being.

As the ego cogito, subjectivity is the consciousness that represents something, relates this representation back to itself, and so gathers with itself.

The consciousness that says 'I am' is not the consciousness that thinks.

We can conceive a thinking being to have either many or few perceptions. Suppose the mind to be reduced even below the life of anoyster. Suppose it to have only one perception, as of thirst or hunger. Consider it in that situation. Do you conceive any thing but merely that perception? Have you any notion of self or substance? If not, the addition of other perceptions can never give you that notion.

We breathe, we think, we conceive of our lives as narratives.

The very act of questioning whether you exist proves you do, because you must be there for the doubt to be entertained in the first place.

I still live, I still think: I still have to live, for I still have to think.

To be conscious means not simply to be, but to be reported, known, to have awareness of one's being added to that being.

I don't know if I get recognized necessarily, though I do get looked at a lot - but I don't know if it's because of who I am, or if people just think I look weird.

How do you know, right now, that you are aware of being aware, or conscious?

The self has the characteristic that it is an object to itself, and that characteristic distinguishes it from other objects and from the body.

The great mystery of our consciousness is beyond our grasp.

All I know is that when I go somewhere, I'm not an autobot. I am a human being. I am not an actor.

The brain constantly assures us, reassures us, that we are in control. But the closer you look, the more questions you have about it.

I drink therefore I am.

The 'I think' which Kant said must be able to accompany all my objects, is the 'I breathe' which actually does accompany them.

We're all just bags of bones and muscle and hormones; I'll never understand what makes our minds do the things we do. It's like that statue of the monkey holding a skull. We're trying to use a thing we don't understand to understand ourselves.

I dream, therefore I exist.

I am, therefore I'll think.

The animal is ignorant of the fact that he knows. The man is aware of the fact that he is ignorant.

I--this thought which is called I--is the mould into which the world is poured like melted wax.

You are not what you think you are, but what you THINK, you ARE.

We are what our thoughts have made us