The quotes on this page should be considered and taken on their own merit - and not misconstrued as being the specific ideas or opinions of members of the RPI Objectivist Club. These are, however, quotes which are relevant to philosophy and it's importance in life and have been judged to be mostly harmonious with Objectivism.
-Aneel Lakhani/President, RPI Objectivist Club.
- And now, the words.
- I use philosophy when I'm buying a new pipe. When I walk into a pipe store, I don't just buy the first pipe that strikes my fancy - because philosophy tells me that feelings are not tools of cognition. My liking a pipe doesn't make it a good one. It might get too hot when you smoke it. It might be improperly balanced or too heavy to hold between your teeth. It might cost too much. I choose a pipe by means of reason. If I find several pipes that meet my requirements, I can then safely pick the one that I like best. Philosophy doesn't stifle my feelings. It simply prevents me from wasting time and money on faulty pipes, so I have more time to enjoy a good smoke.
- I use philosophy when I'm late for the bus. I'll run like hell to catch it. But if it's pulling away, I'll relax and light up my pipe. Philosophy tells me the difference between the metaphysical and man-made. If the bus is gone, there's nothing I can do to change it and no use getting steamed up over it. I think philosophy helps prevent stress. It also tells me that I should change what is in my power - my alarm clock.
-from a student response to the question of the role of philosophy in daily life from Dr. Leanord Peikoff's "Understanding Objectivism" taped lectures.
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Experience does not err, it is only your judgment
that errs in expecting from her what is not in her power. Wrongly do men
complain of Experience and with bitter reproaches accuse her of leading
them astray. Let Experience alone, and rather turn your complaints against
your own ignorance, which causes you to be carried away by your vain and
foolish desires as to expect from Experience things which are not within
her power, saying that she is fallacious.
-Leonardo da Vinci
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To deal with men by force is as impractical as to deal with nature by presuasion.
-Ayn Rand, "The Metaphysical Versus the Man-Made," Philosophy: Who Needs It?.
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"Democracy" is a valid concept when used simply to refer to the method of
organizing and operating government by popular vote. It is the perfect word
to name the Athenian style of government where a majority can vote to kill
Socrates for corrupting the young, or the Scandinavian style of government
where a majority's representatives can vote to nationalize the means and
rewards of a person's productive work.
But liberals have instituted the practice of naming, in any positive
context, the original American system of government as "democracy," rather
than as "capitalism" or even as "constitutional republicanism founded on the
principle of individual rights." This allows them to pretend that freedom
consists of the right to vote, not of having individual rights
protected--thereby creating a package-deal which equates America, the
ancient Athenian democracy, and democratic socialist states as equally free.
-Damon Cole
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An individualist is a man who says: "I will not run anyone's life - nor let anyone run mine. I will not rule or be ruled. I will not be a master nor a slave. I will not sacrifice myself to anyone - nor sacrifice anyone to myself."
-Ayn Rand, "Textbook of Americanism."
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"Shoulds" apply only to the chosen and the volitional -- NOT to the
automatic functions of consciousness like perceptions and emotions. To
conclude you shouldn't feel something is as wrong as concluding you
shouldn't see what is in front of your eyes or hear what is sounding in
your ears.
-Betsy Speicher
©2002 RPI Objectivist Club
