Eric Hoffer was an American moral and social philosopher. He has written 10 books, mostly on social order, power and life. His first book, The True Believer was widely recognized as a classic, receiving critical acclaim and catapulted him into the limelight. The bppk demonstrated his insights into the nature of mass movements and the people who compose them.
Hoffer was born on July 15, 1902, in The Bronx, New York. Hoffer’s family was of modest means, and his early life was marked by hardship. He was left partially blind from the age of 7 to 15. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, in 1982. He passed away on 21 May 1983
1 It is by its promise of a sense of power that evil often attracts the weak. -Eric Hoffer
Humans are attracted to anything that shows them a possibility to yield power. And that is exactly how we are misled into following a wrong path that only leads to evil.
2 For many people, an excuse is better than an achievement. -Eric Hoffer
People are more willing to make up excuses than to work hard to achieve something. WHat they don’t realise is that excuses will never take them anywhere.
3 The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. -Eric Hoffer
We are so very engrossed in our daily life that we rarely ever notice the blessings in our life. There are a plethora of things that we can find happiness in. But we miss all that.
4 People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them. -Eric Hoffer
Loyalty is a very important virtue in life. Those who cannot stay loyal to those who help them will have no shame in serving those who try to harm them.
5 To know a person’s religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance. -Eric Hoffer
No religion teaches us violence. Every religion preaches peace and tolerance. Someone who is intolerant towards any other religion or belief does not follow any religion but only his own self.
6 You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you. -Eric Hoffer
Your enemies try to project their own fears upon you and use that to intimidate you. Once you can see through that you can discover their fears and use that against them.
7 The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. -Eric Hoffer
Education is meant to inculcate in you a sense of undying curiosity that will only cause you to learn more. That is the essence of education. It should produce people who are willing to accept and gain more knowledge.
8 Rudeness is a weak imitation of strength. -Eric Hoffer
People act rude with the intention to seem stronger than they really are. Rudeness is nothing but a farce used by insecure people.
9 Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. -Eric Hoffer
Power is held by only a few. Just as power corrupts people, the absence of power too can corrupt people for it causes a strong desire in those that do not hold it. They can go to any lengths to acquire that power
10 The hardest thing to cope with is not selfishness or vanity or deceitfulness, but sheer stupidity. -Eric Hoffer
Stupidity is the probably the most difficult thing to encounter. You can cope up with any other kind of people but rarely ever with those who are stupid. Their over-confidence and refusal to even listen to a different point of view makes it even worse.
11 We can be absolutely certain only about things we do not understand. -Eric Hoffer
The more we learn about something, the more questions pop up in our heads. If we haven’t really understood it, there will be little to no room for further learning and we’ll be stuck in an illusion of knowledge.
12 The beginning of thought is in disagreement – not only with others but also with ourselves. -Eric Hoffer
Once your start to question everything that you are presented with, you become capable of independent thought. Question not just others but also your own beliefs and thoughts. That is the only way to progress.
13 We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves. -Eric Hoffer
It’s easier to lie to someone else than it is to lie to ourselves. It takes more effort to lie to ourselves about something that we know isn’t true.
14 To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are. -Eric Hoffer
Unless we know what we are currently, we can never truly progress. You need to introspect and identify your own shortcomings if you want to become better.
15 We feel free when we escape – even if it be but from the frying pan to the fire. -Eric Hoffer
We yearn for freedom from our current situation. It doesn’t matter to us where that leads us, but even the false illusion of freedom is enough for us.
15 Quotes by Eric Hoffer in 2020 – Key to a Happy Life
1. It is by its promise of a sense of power that evil often attracts the weak. -Eric Hoffer
2. For many people, an excuse is better than an achievement. -Eric Hoffer
3. The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. -Eric Hoffer
4. People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them. -Eric Hoffer
5. To know a person’s religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance. -Eric Hoffer
6. You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you. -Eric Hoffer
7. The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. -Eric Hoffer
8. Rudeness is a weak imitation of strength. -Eric Hoffer
9. Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. -Eric Hoffer
10. The hardest thing to cope with is not selfishness or vanity or deceitfulness, but sheer stupidity. -Eric Hoffer
11. We can be absolutely certain only about things we do not understand. -Eric Hoffer
12. The beginning of thought is in disagreement – not only with others but also with ourselves. -Eric Hoffer
13. We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves. -Eric Hoffer
14. To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are. -Eric Hoffer
15. We feel free when we escape – even if it be but from the frying pan to the fire. -Eric Hoffer
