Meandering along . . .

Today is the birthday of Eric Hoffer (July 25, 1902 – May 21, 1983), social writer and philosopher. He is oft referred to as the longshoreman philosopher.

"Creativity is the ability to introduce order into the randomness of nature." - Eric Hoffer

"Language was invented to ask questions. Answers may be given by grunts and gestures, but questions must be spoken. Humanness came of age when man asked the first question. Social stagnation results not from a lack of answers but from the absence of the impulse to ask questions." - Eric Hoffer

"In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists." - Eric Hoffer

"There is no doubt that in exchanging a self-centered for a selfless life we gain enormously in self-esteem." - Eric Hoffer

"Far more crucial than what we know or do not know is what we do not want to know." - Eric Hoffer

"It is futile to judge a kind deed by its motives. Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind." - Eric Hoffer

"It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities." - Eric Hoffer

"Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing." - Eric Hoffer

"Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there." - Eric Hoffer

"We run fastest and farthest when we run from ourselves." - Eric Hoffer

"How much easier is self-sacrifice than self-realization." - Eric Hoffer

Hoffer image source (1)