83 quotes
The being of substance does not appertain to the essence of man — in other words, substance does not constitute the actual being of man.
Ethics Geometrically Demonstrated (1677)
He who seeks equality between unequals seeks an absurdity.
Political Treatise (1677)
God and all attributes of God are eternal.
Ethica Ordine Geometrico Demonstrata (1677)
My purpose is to explain, not the meaning of words, but the nature of things.
Ethics (1677)
Many things are narrated in Scripture as real, and were believed to be real, which were in fact only symbolical and imaginary.
Theologico-Political Treatise (1677)
The order and connection of the thought is identical to with the order and connection of the things.
Ethics (1677)
Extreme pride or dejection indicates extreme ignorance of self.
Ethics (1677)
By that which is self-caused, I mean that of which the essence involves existence, or that of which the nature is only conceivable as existent.
I am of opinion that the revelation of God can only be established by the wisdom of the doctrine, not by miracles, or in other words by ignorance.
The supposition of some, that I endeavour to prove in the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus the unity of God and Nature (meaning by the latter a certain mass or corporeal matter), is wholly erroneous.
I pass, at length, to the third and perfectly absolute dominion, which we call democracy.
Political Treatise (1677)
When we love a thing similar to ourselves, we endeavor, as far as we can, to bring about that it should love us in return.
God, or substance, consisting of infinite attributes, of which each expresses eternal and infinite essentiality, necessarily exists.
Ethics Geometrically Demonstrated (1677)
Every idea of every body, or of every particular thing actually existing, necessarily involves the eternal and infinite essence of God.
I have resolved to demonstrate by a certain and undoubted course of argument, or to deduce from the very condition of human nature, not what is new and unheard of, but only such things as agree best with practice.
Political Treatise (1677)
I cannot consider them as anything but dreams, which differ from God as totally as that which is not differs from that which is.
A definition, if it is to be called perfect, must explain the inmost essence of a thing, and must take care not to substitute for this any of its properties.
On the Improvement of the Understanding (1662)
The greater emotion with which we conceive a loved object to be affected toward us, the greater will be our complacency.
Substance is in its nature infinite, immutable, indivisible...
Ethics Geometrically Demonstrated (1677)
Minds are conquered not by arms, but by love and magnanimity.