psychology Quotes

[I]t is rather the case that we desire something because we believe it to be good than that we believe a thing to be good because we desire it. It is the thought that starts things off.

Our opinions change when we are happy and friendly compared to when we are upset and hostile.

It belongs to small-mindedness to be unable to bear either honor or dishonor, either good fortune or bad, but to be filled with conceit when honored and puffed up by trifling good fortune, and to be unable to bear even... ...

There are, then, these three means of effecting persuasion. The man who is to be in command of them must, it is clear, be able (1) to reason logically, (2) to understand human character and goodness in their various forms,... ...

The angry man wishes the object of his anger to suffer in return; hatred wishes its object not to exist.

Anger is always concerned with individuals, ... whereas hatred is directed also against classes: we all hate any thief and any informer. Moreover, anger can be cured by time; but hatred cannot. The one aims at giving pain to its... ...

All human actions are caused by one or more of these seven things: chance, nature, force, habit, reason, strong emotion, or desire.

The key to humor is surprising people.

Those who have been eminent in philosophy, politics, poetry, and the arts have all had tendencies toward melancholia.

Men regard it as their right to return evil for evil and, if they cannot, feel they have lost their liberty.