The most remembered Spinoza phrases

Many of Spinoza’s phrases are still cited today. His words are accurate and his sentences are a good exponent of the philosophy he defended.

Surely we have all come across Spinoza’s phrases at some point. He is one of the most cited thinkers, because his aphorisms are as valid today as they were in his time. This Dutch philosopher was one of the three great exponents of rationalism in the 18th century.

Spinoza’s phrases tell us mainly about values. His thought is a mixture of Descartes’ rationalism, scholastic philosophy and Judaism. That is why in his words one can clearly identify his interest in being rigorously logical, as well as an attempt to reconcile reason and religion.

Although he shared the great truths of his time this philosopher was banished from many places. He was even considered somewhat of a heretic and some went so far as to say that he was the precursor of atheism. Nothing more false. Let’s get to know his thinking through some of Spinoza’s phrases that best capture his way of thinking.

“In any case, it is not weapons that conquer spirits, but love and generosity”.

-Spinoza-

Repentance

This is one of those Spinoza phrases that was written almost three centuries ago, but that does not lose its validity. He has to do with the inner storms of human beings and says: “The one who regrets of an action is doubly miserable and impotent”.

Like other philosophers, Spinoza believes that repentance is totally useless. Not only that, but it increases the error that gives rise to it. More than repenting and letting ourselves be carried away by regrets What should be done is repair and learn of the mistake.

Read Also: What is jamais vu and how is it different from déjà vu?

One of Spinoza’s phrases about the past

Spinoza agrees with the large number of thinkers who have warned about the importance of knowing the past in depth. What has already happened is something that can continue to gravitate foreverwhen it is not addressed and elaborated.

In this regard, one of Spinoza’s phrases says: “If you don’t want to repeat the past study it”. She knew that mistakes tend to be repeated over time, when they are not assumed and elucidated. Whoever stumbles over the same stone two or more times simply has not appropriated his experience.

Fear as a cause

The theme of superstition is also part of Spinoza’s reflections. On this topic he points out: “The cause that gives rise to, preserves and promotes superstition It is, then, fear”. Let us remember that superstition is an unfounded belief, which tells us about magical or supernatural causes.

At the root of this type of belief lies ignorance, but above all fear. Not knowing gives rise to fear and this gives rise to superstition.. Like when someone feels anxious about his future and tries to know it through oracles or sources that tell him about predestination.

Precision and error

Baruch Spinoza says: “Most errors are simply that we do not correctly apply names to things.”. In this case, he points out that the lack of precision in words is a continuous source of error. This is a very interesting statement.

When we fail to name a reality precisely, we distort that reality. and, therefore, we move away from its understanding. Not calling things by their name is misleading because it represents a distortion that leads to a wrong perception.

Read Also: What are the differences between a law and a decree?

Everything counts in reality

Another of Spinoza’s phrases points out: “There is nothing from whose nature does not follow some effect”. It seems like a very simple statement, but it actually has great depth. It tells us about the validity and importance of everything that exists, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

If something exists, it generates some effect. Major or minor, relevant or trivial, but it always gives rise to a consequence. This means that everything and everyone around us exerts some level of influence. in what happens within our reality. It’s always good to remember that.

The absence of love

This is a wonderful phrase that tells us about the essence of love: “That which is not loved never causes fights or sadness or laziness or envy, if another possesses it, neither fear nor hatred nor, in a word, any inner commotion.”.

It means that Only where there is love are other feelings generated, even if they are negative.. On the contrary, the absence of love generates nothing. So there is something affectionate about envy, rejection and everything that generates an emotional response. We could fill entire pages with Spinoza’s phrases. He was a very prolific thinker, who history treated better than his time.