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“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
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“I think the big mistake in schools is trying to teach children anything, and by using fear as the basic motivation. Fear of getting failing grades, fear of not staying with your class, etc. Interest can produce learning on a scale compared to fear as a nuclear explosion to a firecracker.”
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“There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.”
― Tanstaafl: A Plan for a New Economic World Order
― Tanstaafl: A Plan for a New Economic World Order
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
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“The More Loving One
Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.”
― Collected Shorter Poems, 1927-1957
Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.”
― Collected Shorter Poems, 1927-1957
Philosophy
— 5810 members
— last activity Jan 22, 2026 12:10PM
What is Philosophy? Why is it important? How do you use it? This group looks at these questions and others: ethics, government, economics, skepticism, ...more
CROATIA / grupa za čitatelje iz Hrvatske i na hrvatskom jeziku
— 2292 members
— last activity Feb 23, 2026 07:18AM
Malo nas je, al' nas ima :). Mjesto za razmjenu komentara prvenstveno o knjigama koje se mogu nabaviti na domaćem tržištu, a zatim i o svim ostalima o ...more
Ivan’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Ivan’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
829 books
|
15 friends
492 books
|
65 friends
287 books
|
27 friends
226 books
|
35 friends
1,064 books
|
212 friends
448 books
|
28 friends
860 books
|
23 friends
68 books
|
40 friends
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