{"author":"Iain Pears","author_id":"Iain+Pears","total_quotes":39,"quotes":[{"text":"Although of course I am aware that it changes colour in a jar. But we know why, surely? The heavier melancholic elements in the blood sink, making the top lighter and the bottom darker.'Not so,' I said firmly. 'Cover the jar, and the colour does not change. And I can find no explanation of how such separation could occur in the lungs. But when it emerges from the lungs - at least, this is the case in cats - it is very much lighter in colour than when it goes in, indicating that some darkness is withdrawn from it.'I must cut up a cat and see for myself. A live cat, was it?'It was for a while.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["blood","cat","experiments"],"id":14751,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"I have brought peace to this land, and security,' he began.'And what of your soul, when you use the cleverness of argument to cloak such acts? Do you think that the peace of a thousand cancels out the unjust death of one single person? It may be desirable, it may win you praise from those who have happily survived you and prospered from your deeds, but you have committed ignoble acts, and have been too proud to own them. I have waited patiently here, hoping that you would come to me, for if you understood, then some of your acts would be mitigated. But instead you send me this manuscript, proud, magisterial, and demonstrating only that you have understood nothing at all.'I returned to public life on your advice, madam,' he said stiffly.'Yes; I advised it. I said if learning must die it should do so with a friend by its bedside. Not an assassin.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["corruption","doctrine","evil","good","injustice","killing","learning","peace","philosophy","pride","prosperity","public-office","soul","values","vice","virtue"],"id":31483,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"The evil done by men of goodwill is the worst of all ... We have done terrible things, for the best of reasons, and that makes it worse.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["evil","goodness"],"id":32115,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it sees the irrationality of others, it must seek to correct it, and can do this either by teaching or engaging in public affairs itself, correcting through its practice. And the purpose of action is to enable philosophy to continue, for if men are reduced to the material alone, they become no more than beasts.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["action","body","civilization","continuance","mankind","materialism","mind","philosophy","rationality","reason"],"id":42322,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"Civilization depends on continually making the effort, of never giving in. It needs to be cared for by men of goodwill, protected from the dark.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["civilization"],"id":42500,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"Olivier took a deep breath, then turned and bowed in farewell. Gersonides nodded in return, then thought of something.'The manuscript you brought me, by that bishop. It argues that understanding is more important than movement. That action is virtuous only if it reflects pure comprehension, and that virtue comes from the comprehension, not the action.'Olivier frowned. 'So?'Dear boy, I must tell you a secret.'What?'I do believe it is wrong.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["action","comprehension","philosophy","right","understanding","virtue","wrong"],"id":54970,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"The devil himself can become beauty, so we are told, to corrupt mankind.'(Marco).","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["beauty","corruption","devil","religion"],"id":96105,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"Do you know, the only people I can have a conversation with are the Jews? At least when they quote scripture at you they are not merely repeating something some priest has babbled in their ear. They have the great merit of disagreeing with nearly everything I say. In fact, they disagree with almost everything they say themselves. And most importantly, they don't think that shouting strengthens their argument.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["argument","blind-faith","disagreement","discussion","doctrine","faith","freedom-of-thought","independent-thought","jews","judaism","religion","shouting"],"id":102961,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"Do you wish to speak in Provençal, French, or Latin? They are all I can manage, I'm afraid.'Any will do,' the rabbi replied in Provençal.'Splendid. Latin it is,' said Pope Clement.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["arrogance","communication","conceit","languages","mockery","papal-ity","pope"],"id":129926,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"},{"text":"In a world of chemically induced sanity, a little lunacy confers immense advantages.","author":"Iain Pears","tags":["society"],"id":136007,"author_id":"Iain+Pears"}],"pagination":{"page":1,"page_size":10,"total":39,"pages":4,"next":"?page=2\u0026page_size=10"}}