Auguste Comte Quotes
Auguste Comte was a French philosopher and one of the founders of sociology, a term he coined. He developed the doctrine of positivism, according to which authentic knowledge proceeds from observation and the discovery of laws, and he proposed a law of three stages through which human thought passes from the theological to the metaphysical to the positive or scientific. The quotes below are attributed to Auguste Comte, organized by topic.
Auguste Comte on Knowledge
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Attributed to Auguste Comte:
“To understand a science it is necessary to know its history.”
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Attributed to Auguste Comte:
“Theories must be based upon facts, just as facts can be observed and arranged only by means of theories.”
Auguste Comte on Mind
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Attributed to Auguste Comte:
“Know yourself to improve yourself.”
Auguste Comte on Politics
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Attributed to Auguste Comte:
“The dead govern the living.”
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Attributed to Auguste Comte:
“Demography is destiny.”
Auguste Comte on Virtue
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Attributed to Auguste Comte:
“Live for others.”