E. O. Wilson Quotes

Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven.

Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.

We human beings are strange creatures and still reserve the right to think for ourselves.

Now that I look back, I realize that a life predicated on being obedient and taking orders is a very comfortable life indeed. Living in such a way reduces to a minimum one's need to think.

I am obliged to believe certain opinions myself. No man's belief will save me except my own.

Children have their own mind.

This is a country of strong beliefs. Just because some two people say something, people don't bow down.

You must think for yourself, what you must do. If someone tells you, then you are not trying. -An-mei

No one tells me what to think. I think for me.

First, recognize that you are not a sheep who will be satisfied with only a few nibbles of dry grass or with following the herd as they wander aimlessly, bleating and whining, all of their days. Separate yourself now from the multitude of humanity so that you will be able to control your own destiny. Remember that what others think and say and do need never influence what you think and say and do.

Thinking for yourself - that's scarier than any devil image.

I shall have the liberty to think for myself.

Sometimes I think I'm a nihilist because it doesn't matter, none of this matters. We're all following the will of some unknowable higher power, probably the stars manipulating our cellular magnets. We think we have all this agency, but do we? Do we really? Can you choose to be brave when you were born a coward? Can we be deprogrammed from the brainwashing that we grew up in? I think we can, but I think we need a lot of help.

I don't think anybody can be held accountable or responsible for anyone's behaviors expect the individual. This goes beyond that particular situation.

If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

All I have to do is think and not be influenced by others.

You can not live your life just based on what everyone else thinks.

If you're not thinking for yourself, then you're following-not leading.

No power on earth, no power beneath the earth, will ever prevent you or me or any Latter-day Saint from being saved, except ourselves

I think that most Christians would be better pleased if the Lord did not inquire into their personal affairs too closely. They want Him to save them, to keep them happy, and to take them off to heaven at last, but not to be too inquisitive about their conduct or services.

Independence is the recognition of the fact that yours is the responsibility of judgement and nothing can help you escape it - that no substitute can do your thinking, as no pinch-hitter can live your life.

I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't go to hell.

I also believe that everyone needs to think independently and make their own decisions on what makes the most sense.

A free man must not be told how to think, either by the government or by social activists. He may certainly be shown the right way, but he must not accept being forced into it.

Do not crave to know the views of others, nor base your intent thereon. To think independently for yourself is a sign of fearlessness.