Manly Palmer Hall quotes

Manly Palmer Hall was a Canadian-born author and mystic, renowned for his works on philosophy, religion, and esotericism. His most famous book, "The Secret Teachings of All Ages," explores ancient wisdom and symbolic traditions from around the world. He inspired generations of seekers and became a central figure in modern esoteric thought. Here are 32 of his quotes:

The end of science is not to prove a theory, but to improve mankind.

Manly Palmer Hall

Moderation is the secret of survival.

Manly Palmer Hall

The accepted theory that the serpent is evil cannot be substantiated. It has long been viewed as the emblem of immortality. It is the symbol of reincarnation, or metempsychosis, because it annually sheds its skin...It was also believed that snakes swallowed themselves, and this resulted in their being considered emblematic of the Supreme Creator, who periodically reabsorbed His universe back into Himself.

Manly Palmer Hall

Each person must discover his own philosophy of life, and it is not fair or right to impose our codes upon others. It is also our responsibility, however, to share, one with another, such experiences as may have common value.

Manly Palmer Hall

The way of heaven can be known and experienced through the heart.

Manly Palmer Hall

In ancient times men fought with their right arms and defended with their left arms... ...the right side of the body was considered masculine and the left side feminine.

Manly Palmer Hall

It is only a step from boredom to disillusionment, which leads naturally to self-pity, which in turn ends in chaos.

Manly Palmer Hall

Words are potent weapons for all causes, good or bad.

Manly Palmer Hall

Like nearly all schools of the Mysteries, the teachings of the Druids were divided into two distinct sections. The simpler, a moral code, was taught to all the people, while the deeper, esoteric doctrine was given only to initiated priests. To be admitted to the order, a candidate was required to be of good family and of high moral character. No important secrets were intrusted to him until he had been tempted in many ways and his strength of character severely tried.

Manly Palmer Hall

The yoni and phallus were worshiped by nearly all ancient people as appropriate symbols of God's creative power.

Manly Palmer Hall

Symbolism is the language of the Mysteries. By symbols men have ever sought to communicate to each other those thoughts which transcend the limitations of language.

Manly Palmer Hall

To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books. It has always seemed to me that symbolism should be restored to the structure of world education. The young are no longer invited to seek the hidden truths, dynamic and eternal, locked within the shapes and behavior of living beings.

Manly Palmer Hall

An unhealthy mind, even in a healthy body, will ultimately destroy health.

Manly Palmer Hall

Man's status in the natural world is determined, therefore, by the quality of his thinking.

Manly Palmer Hall

There is no place for little minds in a great work.

Manly Palmer Hall

What nobler relationship than that of friend? What nobler compliment can man bestow than friendship? The bonds and ties of the life we know break easily, but through eternity one bond remains - the bond of fellowship - the fellowship of atoms, of star dust in its endless flight, of suns and worlds, of gods and men. The clasped hands of comradeship unite in a bond eternal - the fellowship of spirit.

Manly Palmer Hall

Symbols are oracular forms-mysterious patterns creating vortices in the substances of the invisible world.

Manly Palmer Hall

To avoid a future of war, crime, and bankruptcy, the individual must begin to plan his own destiny, and the best source for the necessary information comes down to us through the writings of the ancients. The greatest knowledge of all time should be available ... in a book that would be a monument, not merely a coffin.

Manly Palmer Hall

What nobler relationship than that of friend? What nobler compliment can man bestow than friendship?

Manly Palmer Hall

The esoteric doctrines for which the Eastern lotus stands have been perpetuated in modern Europe under the form of the rose. The rose and the lotus are yonic emblems, signifying primarily the maternal creative mystery, while the Easter lily is considered to be phallic. The Brahmin and Egyptian initiates, who undoubtedly understood the secret systems of spiritual culture whereby the latent centers of cosmic energy in man may be stimulated, employed the lotus blossoms to represent the spinning vortices of spiritual energy located at various points along the spinal column and called chakras, or whirling wheels, by the Hindus. Seven of these chakras are of prime importance and have their individual correspondences in the nerve ganglia and plexuses.

Manly Palmer Hall

The great materialistic progress which we have venerated for so long is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Manly Palmer Hall

To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books. It has always seemed to me that symbolism should be restored to the structure of world education.

Manly Palmer Hall