Eric Hoffer quotes - page 2

Eric Hoffer was an American moral and social philosopher, widely recognized for his reflections on mass movements and the nature of fanaticism. His most famous work, "The True Believer," explores the psychological roots of mass movements. He offered unique insights into society despite being self-educated and working as a longshoreman.

Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life.

Eric Hoffer

We can be absolutely certain only about things we do not understand.

Eric Hoffer

Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there.

Eric Hoffer

Learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.

Eric Hoffer

Add a few drops of venom to a half truth and you have an absolute truth.

Eric Hoffer

Our passionate preoccupation with the sky, the stars, and a God somewhere in outer space is a homing impulse. We are drawn back to where we came from.

Eric Hoffer

The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.

Eric Hoffer

There would be no society if living together depended upon understanding each other.

Eric Hoffer

It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities.

Eric Hoffer

The weakness of a soul is proportionate to the number of truths that must be kept from it.

Eric Hoffer

Charlatanism of some degree is indispensable to effective leadership.

Eric Hoffer

To dispose a soul to action we must upset its equilibrium.

Eric Hoffer

The Savior who wants to turn men into angels is as much a hater of human nature as the totalitarian despot who wants to turn them into puppets.

Eric Hoffer

We usually see only the things we are looking for - so much so that we sometimes see them where they are not.

Eric Hoffer

The opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a god or not.

Eric Hoffer

It is easier to love humanity than to love your neighbor.

Eric Hoffer

To spell out the obvious is often to call it into question.

Eric Hoffer

Many of the insights of the saint stem from their experience as sinners.

Eric Hoffer

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

Whenever we proclaim the uniqueness of a religion, a truth, a leader, a nation, a race, a part or a holy cause, we are also proclaiming our own uniqueness.

Eric Hoffer

The history of this country was made largely by people who wanted to be left alone. Those who could not thrive when left to themselves never felt at ease in America.

Eric Hoffer

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