William Gilmore Simms Quotes

About no subject is there less philosophizing than about philosophy.

See skulking Truth to her old cavern fled, Mountains of Casuistry heap'd o'er her head! Philosophy, that lean'd on Heav'n before, Shrinks to her second cause, and is no more. Physic of Metaphysic begs defence, And Metaphysic calls for aid on Sense! See Mystery to Mathematics fly!

To me, what philosophy does best is reflect on knowledge that's generated in other areas.

He could dismiss several schools of philosophy by shifting slightly in his chair or toting his whisky glass.

It has been said that metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct.

Learning philosophy is learning a particular kind of intuitive understanding.

I discovered philosophy in my youth when I read 'wildly,' and thus I was exposed to the world of ideas.

Let us come to the philosophers, whose authority is of greater weight, and their judgment more to be relied on, because they are believed to have paid attention, not to matters of fiction, but to the investigation of the truth.

Metaphysics means nothing but an unusually obstinate effort to think clearly.

I was interested in philosophy before I knew I was. That's to say, when I was at school, I used to argue with my friends about issues that turned out to be philosophical ones of some kind.

Philosophy! the lumber of the schools.

In the case of Anathem, most of the research had to do with philosophy and metaphysics. Reading this sort of thing has never been my strong suit, so I actually had to be somewhat more "organized and results-driven" than is my habit. I just made up my mind that I was going to have to read some of these philosophy tomes, and I forced myself to read something like 10 pages a day until I had bashed my way through them.

Philosophy is man’s expression of curiosity about everything and his attempt to make sense of the world primarily through his intellect.

Philosophy just puts everything before us, and neither explains nor deduces anything.-Since everything lies open to view there is nothing to explain

Philosophy ... is a science, and as such has no articles of faith; accordingly, in it nothing can be assumed as existing except what is either positively given empirically, or demonstrated through indubitable conclusions.

There is philosophy, which is about conceptual analysis - about the meaning of what we say - and there is all of this ... all of life.

Different ‘philosophies’ represent nothing but methods of evaluation, which may lead to empirical mis-evaluation if science and empirical facts are disregarded.

If somebody is going to try to paste a person's view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas. Don't give me Ayn Rand.

Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.

I'm taking a philosophy class and regretting it with everything in me. I'm taking one college class per semester. Philosophy is studying what you already know and dismantling it. I thought it would be right up my alley. I can't tell you how much it's not me.

It is right that we be concerned with the scientific probity of metaphysics.

Philosophy wasn't about facts, it was about ideas. My first essay title was something like: 'How can you know what other people are thinking?' I thought, 'Wow, what an amazing thing.' I really thought deeply for the first time.

Philosophy changes day by day.

Philosophy is an odd thing. When we use the word in everyday speech, you know, you sometimes hear it hilariously.

I'd love to go back to school for philosophy. I love philosophy, so I'm always reading philosophy books, annoying my girlfriend with that type of stuff.