Novalis Quotes

The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.

I'm a fan of robust debate, and I'm not averse to engaging in the odd ad hominem attack myself.

There is no learned man but will confess be hath much profited by reading controversies,--his senses awakened, his judgment sharpened, and the truth which he holds firmly established. If then it be profitable for him to read, why should it not at least be tolerable and free for his adversary to write? In logic they teach that contraries laid together, more evidently appear; it follows then, that all controversy being permitted, falsehood will appear more false, and truth the more true; which must needs conduce much to the general confirmation of an implicit truth.

I preferred the weapons of dialectic to all the other teachings of philosophy, and armed with these, I chose the conflicts of disputation rather than the trophies of war.

I have never entered into any controversy in defense of my philosophical opinions; I leave them to take their chance in the world. If they are right, truth and experience will support them; if wrong, they ought to be refuted and rejected. Disputes are apt to sour one's temper and disturb one's quiet.

The basic drive behind real philosophy is curiosity about the world, not interest in the writings of philosophers.

Scholars will argue with each other about everything.

Constant and frequent questioning is the first key to wisdom … For through doubting we are led to inquire, and by inquiry we perceive the truth.

There are truths to be discovered, but they are complex and many-sided; the best way to get to them is by engaging contrary ideas in a manner approximating dialogue.

We cannot infer that because sciences of things divine and human are full of controversies and quarrels, therefore their whole subject-matter is uncertain ; for there have been many persons so enamoured of contradiction, as to turn into ridicule geometrical axioms.

To reason, to argue. It is to walk with crutches in search of the truth. We come to it with a leap.

Man discovers truth by reason only, not by faith.

If there be such a thing as truth, it must infallibly be struck out by the collision of mind with mind.

Men who are lovers of wisdom [i.e., philosophers] must be inquirers into many things.

Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things really work is one of humanity's highest callings.

In doubting we come to inquiry; by inquiry we perceive the truth.

The great enemy of knowledge is not error, but inertness. All that we want is discussion; and then we are sure to do well, no matter what our blunders may be. One error conflicts with another, each destroys its opponent, and truth is evolved.

I'm an academic. I'm hardwired for a good debate.

You know that you know nothing. Find out that knowledge.

I find the more you analyze, the less you really know.

I wanted my players to always be searching, especially for truth. I wanted them to know what they believed and be able to defend it. Truth will always stand the test of scrutiny.

Not all questions are answered, but fortunately some answers are questioned.

The more false we destroy, the more room there will be for the true.

I am only a philosopher, and there is only one thing that a philosopher can be relied on to do, and that is, to contradict other philosophers.

We murder to dissect.