Acquisition

The enormous multiplication of

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The enormous multiplication of books in every branch of knowledge is one of the greatest evils of this age, since it presents one of the most serious obstacles to the acquisition of correct information by throwing in the reader’s way piles of lumber in which he must painfully grope for the scraps of useful matter, … Read more

Morality makes stupid.- Custom

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Morality makes stupid.- Custom represents the experiences of men of earlier times as to what they supposed useful and harmful – but the sense for custom (morality) applies, not to these experiences as such, but to the age, the sanctity, the indiscussability of the custom. And so this feeling is a hindrance to the acquisition … Read more

Each member of society

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Each member of society can have only a small fraction of the knowledge possessed by all, and…each is therefore ignorant of most of the facts on which the working of society rests…civilization rests on the fact that we all benefit from knowledge which we do not possess. And one of the ways in which civilization … Read more

Without culture there can

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Without culture there can be no growth; without exertion, no acquisition; without friction, no polish; without labor, no knowledge; without action, no progress; and without conflict, no victory. The man who lies down a fool at night, hoping that he will waken wise in the morning, will rise up in the morning as he laid … Read more

Science, history and politics

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Science, history and politics are not suited for discussion except by experts. Others are simply in the position of requiring more information; and, till they have acquired all available information, cannot do anything but accept on authority the opinions of those better qualified. Frank P. Ramsey