Alfred North Whitehead Quotes

Quotes about:

• The misconception which has haunted philosophic literature throughout the centuries is the notion of 'independent existence.' There is no such mode of existence; every entity is to be understood in terms of the way it is interwoven with the rest of the universe.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Independent, Literature, Way

  Alfred North Whitehead (2014). “Science and Philosophy”, p.54, Open Road Media

  84 Copy quote

• It takes an extraordinary intelligence to contemplate the obvious.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Obvious, Contemplating, Extraordinary

  25 Copy quote

• Not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowledge.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Ignorance, Stupidity, Political

  84 Copy quote

• Seek simplicity but distrust it.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Simplicity, Distrust

  10 Copy quote

• After you understand about the sun and the stars and the rotation of the earth, you may still miss the radiance of the sunset.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Stars, Attitude, Sunset

  11 Copy quote

• Great people plant trees they'll never sit under.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Wisdom, People, Tree

  14 Copy quote

• Problems are only opportunities in disquise.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Opportunity, Problem

  6 Copy quote

• The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Inspirational, Change, Art

  Alfred North Whitehead, David Ray Griffin (1978). “Process and reality: an essay in cosmology”, Free Pr

  85 Copy quote

• The purpose of education is not to fill a vessel but to kindle a flame.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Flames, Purpose, Kindles

  16 Copy quote

• No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Inspirational, Thank You, Wise

  87 Copy quote

• You cannot be wise without some basis of knowledge, but you may easily acquire knowledge and remain bare of wisdom.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Wise, May, Bases

  Alfred North Whitehead (1967). “Aims of Education”, p.30, Simon and Schuster

  9 Copy quote

• Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Philosophy, Done, Wonder

  Alfred North Whitehead (1968). “Modes of Thought”, p.168, Simon and Schuster

  64 Copy quote

• Error is the price we pay for progress.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Errors, Progress, Pay

  "Process and Reality: An Essay in Cosmology". Book by Alfred North Whitehead, 1929.

  8 Copy quote

• Speak out in acts; the time for words has passed, and only deeds will suffice.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Speaks Out, Deeds, Action

  10 Copy quote

• Fundamental progress has to do with the reinterpretation of basic ideas.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Motivation, Ideas, Progress

  Alfred North Whitehead (2014). “Science and Philosophy”, p.142, Open Road Media

  15 Copy quote

• Knowledge shrinks as wisdom grows.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Wisdom, Grows, Shrinks

  Alfred North Whitehead (1967). “Aims of Education”, p.37, Simon and Schuster

  52 Copy quote

• The worship of God is not a rule of safety - it is an adventure of the spirit, a flight after the unattainable.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Adventure, Safety, Unattainable

  1925 Science and the Modern World.

  7 Copy quote

• The total absence of humor from the Bible is one of the most singular things in all literature.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Literature, Absence

  9 Copy quote

• Intelligence is quickness to apprehend as distinct form ability, which is capacity to act wisely on the thing apprehended.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Wise, Intelligent, Intelligence

  Dialogues (1954) 15 Dec. 1939

  10 Copy quote

• The vitality of thought is in adventure. Idea's won't keep. Something must be done about them. When the idea is new, its custodians have fervour, live for it, and, if need be, die for it. Their inheritors receive the idea, perhaps now strong and successful, but without inheriting the fervour; so the idea settles down to a comfortable middle age, turns senile, and dies.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Strong, Adventure, Science

  Alfred North Whitehead, Lucien Price (2001). “Dialogues of Alfred North Whitehead”, p.98, David R. Godine Publisher

  5 Copy quote

• If a dog jumps into your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Dog, Cat, Animal

  Alfred North Whitehead, Lucien Price (2001). “Dialogues of Alfred North Whitehead”, p.183, David R. Godine Publisher

  82 Copy quote

• An enormous part of our mature experience cannot not be expressed in words.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Experience, Mature Love, Mature

  10 Copy quote

• We think in generalities, but we live in detail.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Inspirational, Time, Educational

  Alfred North Whitehead (2014). “Science and Philosophy”, p.20, Open Road Media

  32 Copy quote

• The only use of knowledge of the past is to equip us for the present.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Past, Use It Or Lose It, Use Of Knowledge

  Alfred North Whitehead (1967). “Aims of Education”, p.3, Simon and Schuster

  7 Copy quote

• True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Courage, Hero, Bravery

  19 Copy quote

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