Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us. – Eric Hoffer
The beginning of thought is in disagreement – not only with others but also with ourselves. – Eric Hoffer
When cowardice is made respectable, its followers are without number both from among the weak and the strong; it easily becomes a fashion. – Eric Hoffer
Where everything is possible miracles become commonplaces, but the familiar ceases to be self-evident. – Eric Hoffer
The pleasure we derive from doing favors is partly in the feeling it gives us that we are not altogether worthless. It is a pleasant surprise to ourselves. – Eric Hoffer
Our sense of power is more vivid when we break a man’s spirit than when we win his heart. – Eric Hoffer
Action is at bottom a swinging and flailing of the arms to regain one’s balance and keep afloat. – Eric Hoffer
It is the malady of our age that the young are so busy teaching us that they have no time left to learn. – Eric Hoffer
It would be difficult to exaggerate the degree to which we are influenced by those we influence. – Eric Hoffer
We do not really feel grateful toward those who make our dreams come true; they ruin our dreams. – Eric Hoffer
Whenever you trace the origin of a skill or practices which played a crucial role in the ascent of man, we usually reach the realm of play. – Eric Hoffer
Social improvement is attained more readily by a concern with the quality of results than with the purity of motives. – Eric Hoffer
We have perhaps a natural fear of ends. We would rather be always on the way than arrive. Given the means, we hang on to them and often forget the ends. – Eric Hoffer
Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible. – Eric Hoffer
The suspicious mind believes more than it doubts. It believes in a formidable and ineradicable evil lurking in every person. – Eric Hoffer
The savior who wants to turn men into angels is as much a hater of human nature as the totalitarian despot who wants to turn them into puppets. – Eric Hoffer
Men weary as much of not doing the things they want to do as of doing the things they do not want to do. – Eric Hoffer