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Socrates' call to self-knowledge -

"Know thyself." This quote underscores the importance of self-awareness. Socrates believed that true knowledge begins with knowing oneself—a critical step towards wisdom.

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Plato's vision of a just society -

"Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the souls of the citizens." Plato links personal virtue with societal justice, emphasizing that a just society stems from the morality of its people.

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Aristotle's insight on excellence -

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle suggests that excellence is a product of habitual action, not isolated deeds. Consistent effort shapes character and ability.

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Descartes' quest for certainty -

"I think, therefore I am." Descartes’ statement serves as a foundation for modern philosophy. It asserts that the act of thinking is proof of one’s existence, a fundamental truth.

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Nietzsche on embracing life -

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Nietzsche highlights resilience here. This quote reflects the belief that life's challenges contribute to personal strength and character development.

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Kant's imperative for morality -

"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law." Kant encourages actions that could be universally applied, promoting ethical consistency.

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Confucius on the art of living -

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." This emphasizes persistence over speed, suggesting steady progress leads to success.

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Lao Tzu's wisdom of simplicity -

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Lao Tzu highlights the importance of initiating action, however small, to achieve great things.

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Heraclitus on change and permanence -

"No man ever steps in the same river twice." This reflects on life's constant change, suggesting permanence is an illusion.

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Seneca on the shortness of life -

"Life is long if you know how to use it." Seneca reminds us that life's value is determined by how we utilize our time, not its length.

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Epictetus on control and acceptance -

"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them." This underscores the power of attitude over the situations we find oursevles in.

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Spinoza's path to joy -

"The more you understand individual things, the more you understand God." Spinoza links the understanding of the universe to divine insight.

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Voltaire on the pursuit of happiness -

"I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health." This highlights happiness as a choice beneficial to one's well-being.

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Rousseau's thoughts on freedom -

"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." Rousseau discusses the constraints society places on natural freedom.

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Thoreau's reflection on nature and life -

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately..." Thoreau emphasizes living with purpose and connecting with nature.

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Hegel's dialectics of history -

"The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history." Hegel’s irony points out humanity's tendency to repeat past mistakes, despite historical knowledge.

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Kierkegaard on subjective truth -

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Kierkegaard suggests that understanding life's experiences comes with time, though we must live in the present.

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Marx's vision of a classless society -

"Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains." Marx calls for worker solidarity, advocating for a society free from class divisions and exploitation.

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Camus on the absurdity of life -

"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." Camus promotes personal freedom as a form of resistance against life's inherent absurdity.

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Sartre on existential choice -

"We are our choices." Sartre emphasizes personal responsibility and the shaping of our essence through decisions, in line with existentialist philosophy.

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Wittgenstein's limits of language -

"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." Wittgenstein points out that our understanding of the world is bound by the scope of our language.

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Arendt on the banality of evil -

"The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil." Arendt explores the concept that evil often arises from ordinary individuals failing to question their actions.

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Rawls on justice as fairness -

"Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought." Rawls views justice as fundamental to the legitimacy and morality of social institutions.

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Foucault on power and knowledge -

"Knowledge is not for knowing: knowledge is for cutting." Foucault suggests knowledge is a tool used to exercise power, often in ways that divide or categorize.

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Derrida on deconstruction and meaning -

"There is nothing outside of the text." Derrida argues that meaning is not fixed and is always subject to interpretation and context.

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Heidegger on being and time -

"The most thought-provoking thing in our thought-provoking time is that we are still not thinking." Heidegger challenges us to deeply contemplate our existence and the nature of being, beyond surface-level thinking.

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Simone de Beauvoir on feminism and existence -

"One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman." This quote underscores the societal construction of gender roles, emphasizing that femininity is shaped by culture rather than being innate.

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Levinas on ethics and the other -

"The face is a living presence; it is expression." Levinas suggests that ethical responsibility starts with recognizing the humanity in others, symbolized by the human face.

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Habermas on communication and society -

"The public sphere is a metaphorical term used to describe the virtual space where people can interact." Habermas emphasizes the importance of democratic discourse in shaping societal norms and politics.

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Chomsky on language and mind -

"The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know." Chomsky reflects on the endless journey of learning, suggesting that gaining knowledge makes us aware of our vast ignorance.

Sources: (Four Minute Books) (Philosophy Basics)

See also: Friedrich Nietzsche: history's most controversial philosopher

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