WIST » Hoffer, Eric

Hoffer, Eric -- “Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
“Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Hoffer, Eric -- “Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Dave — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 23:19:41 +0000

It is probably true that business corrupts everything it touches. It corrupts politics, sports, literature, art, labor unions and so on. But business also corrupts and undermines monolithic totalitarianism. Capitalism is at its liberating best in a noncapitalist environment.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
“Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Hoffer, Eric -- “Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Dave — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:52:20 +0000

Retribution often means that we eventually do to ourselves what we have done unto others.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
“Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Hoffer, Eric -- “Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Dave — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:05:29 +0000

There are similarities between absolute power and absolute faith: a demand for absolute obedience, a readiness to attempt the impossible, a bias for simple solutions — to cut the knot rather than unravel it, the viewing of compromise as surrender. Both absolute power and absolute faith are instruments of dehumanization. Hence, absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
“Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Hoffer, Eric -- “Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Dave — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:10:55 +0000

It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise. This is as true of men as of dogs.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
“Thoughts of Eric Hoffer,” New York Times Magazine (25 Apr 1971)

Hoffer, Eric -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Intolerance is the “Do Not Disturb” sign on something that cannot bear touching. We do not mind having our hair ruffled, but we will not tolerate any familiarity with the toupee that covers our baldness.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
(Attributed)

Hoffer, Eric -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our short-comings and transgressions. We need people to convince us that we are not as bad as we think we are.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
(Attributed)

Hoffer, Eric -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

We are more ready to try the untried when what we do is inconsequential. Hence the remarkable fact that many inventions had their birth as toys.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
(Attributed)

Hoffer, Eric -- Ordeal of Change, 15.4 (1964)

Dave — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:23:31 +0000

A dissenter is to the absoluteness of power what an exception is to the validity of a formulated scientific rule — both must be dealt with and somehow eliminated.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Ordeal of Change, 15.4 (1964)

Hoffer, Eric -- Reflections on the Human Condition, Section 178 (1973)

Dave — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:33:44 +0000

Our greatest weariness comes from work not done.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Reflections on the Human Condition, Section 178 (1973)

Hoffer, Eric -- Reflections on the Human Condition, Section 50 (1973)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Nonconformists travel as a rule in bunches. You rarely find a nonconformist who goes it alone. And woe to him inside a nonconformist clique who does not conform with nonconformity.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Reflections on the Human Condition, Section 50 (1973)

Hoffer, Eric -- The Ordeal of Change

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The ruthlessness born of self-seeking is ineffectual compared with the ruthlessness sustained by dedication to a holy cause.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
The Ordeal of Change

Hoffer, Eric -- The Ordeal of Change, ch. 11 “Brotherhood” (1963)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one’s neighbor. There may even be a certain antagonism between love of humanity and love of neighbor; a low capacity for getting along with those near us often goes hand in hand with a high receptivity to the idea of the brotherhood of men.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
The Ordeal of Change, ch. 11 “Brotherhood” (1963)

Hoffer, Eric -- The Ordeal of Change, ch. 6 (1963)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Discontent is at the root of the creative process.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
The Ordeal of Change, ch. 6 (1963)

Hoffer, Eric -- The Passionate State of Mind (1955)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The basic test of freedom is perhaps less in what we are free to do than in what we are free not to do.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
The Passionate State of Mind (1955)