C. E. M. Joad Quotes

• There are those who feel an imperative need to believe, for whom the values of a belief are proportionate not to its truth, but to its definiteness. Incapable of either admitting the existence of contrary judgments or of suspending their own, they supply the place of knowledge by turning other men's conjectures into dogmas.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Believe, Men, Atheism

  26 Copy quote

• It has been left to our generation to discover that you can move heaven and earth to save five minutes and then not have the faintest idea what to do with them when you have saved them.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Moving, Our Generation, Ideas

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• It all depends what you mean by.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Mean, Atheism, Depends

  Answering questions on 'The Brains Trust' (formerly 'Any Questions'), BBC radio (1941-8)

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• My life is spent in perpetual alternation between two rhythms,
  the rhythm of attracting people for fear I may be lonely
  and the rhythm of trying to get rid of them
  because I know that I am bored.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Lonely, Being Alone, Two

  In Observer 12 Dec. 1948, p. 2

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• The secret of successful journalism is to make your readers so angry they will write half your paper for you.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Writing, Successful, Secret

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• There was never an age in which useless knowledge was more important than in our own.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Knowledge, Important, Age

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• War provides an outlet for every evil element in man's nature. It enfranchises cupidity and greed gives a charter to petty tyranny, glorifies cruelty and places in positions of power the vulgar and base.

  C. E. M. Joad

  War, Men, Position Of Power

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• In the most civilized and progressive countries freedom of discussion is recognized as a fundamental principle.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Country, Civilization, Principles

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• Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Birthday, Wine, Turning 50

  17 Copy quote

• A man's style should be like his dress. It should be as unobtrusive and should attract as little attention as possible.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Men, Style, Dresses

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• A good soul like a good body should be as unobtrusive as possible; in so far as it functions properly, it should not be noticed for good or for ill.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Soul, Body, Should

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• Conscience was the barmaid of the Victorian soul. Recognizing that human beings were fallible and that their failings, though regrettable, must be humored, conscience would permit, rather ungraciously perhaps, the indulgence of a number of carefully selected desires.

  C. E. M. Joad

  Numbers, Soul, Desire

  62 Copy quote

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