F. H. Bradley Quotes
Francis Herbert Bradley was an English philosopher and the leading representative of British absolute idealism. A fellow of Merton College, Oxford, he wrote almost in solitude, publishing Ethical Studies, the Principles of Logic, and his magnum opus Appearance and Reality, in which he argued that the world of finite relations is appearance and that ultimate reality is one all-encompassing experience. The quotes below are attributed to F. H. Bradley, organized by topic.
Browse F. H. Bradley by topic
F. H. Bradley on Happiness
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“The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring. And that is not happiness.”
Aphorisms(1930) | No. 33.
F. H. Bradley on Knowledge
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“Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct, but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.”
Appearance and Reality , preface (1893). -
“Appearance and Reality , preface (1893).”
Of Optimism I have said that "The world is the best of all possible worlds, and everything in it is a necessary evil. -
“Appearance and Reality , preface (1893).”
Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct. -
“Reported by Brand Blanshard in 'Francis Herbert Bradley', Journal of Philosophy (1925).”
The man whose nature is such that by one path alone his chief desire will reach consummation will try to find it on that path, whatever it may be, and whatever the world thinks of it; and if he does not, he is contemptible. -
“The Limits of Individual and National Self-Sacrifice.”
I will begin with the self-styled "Christian" party, who profess to base their morality on the New Testament. But whether it is really more Christian to follow or to ignore the teachings of the Gospels I shall not discuss. -
“The one self-knowledge worth having is to know one’s own mind.”
No. 8. -
““Adam knew Eve his wife and she conceived.” It is a pity that this is still the only knowledge of their wives at which some men seem to arrive.”
Aphorisms(1930) | No. 94. -
“It is by a wise economy of nature that those who suffer without change, and whom no one can help, become uninteresting. Yet so it may happen that those who need sympathy the most often attract it the least.”
Aphorisms(1930) | No. 22.
F. H. Bradley on Nature
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“Of Optimism I have said that "The world is the best of all possible worlds, and everything in it is a necessary evil.”
Appearance and Reality , preface (1893). -
“The man whose nature is such that by one path alone his chief desire will reach consummation will try to find it on that path, whatever it may be, and whatever the world thinks of it; and if he does not, he is contemptible.”
Reported by Brand Blanshard in 'Francis Herbert Bradley', Journal of Philosophy (1925).
F. H. Bradley on Truth
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Attributed to F. H. Bradley:
“Where everything is bad it must be good to know the worst.”
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Attributed to F. H. Bradley:
“The Absolute is one system, and its contents are nothing but sentient experience.”
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Attributed to F. H. Bradley:
“The world of relations is a world of appearance.”
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Attributed to F. H. Bradley:
“Reality is one and unchanging; it is appearance that gives the world its diversity.”
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“Eclecticism. Every truth is so true that any truth must be false.”
No. 6. -
“True penitence condemns to silence. What a man is ready to recall he would be willing to repeat.”
No. 10. -
“We say that a girl with her doll anticipates the mother. It is more true, perhaps, that most mothers are still but children with playthings.”
Aphorisms(1930) | No. 23. -
“There are those who so dislike the nude that they find something indecent in the naked truth.”
Aphorisms(1930) | No. 88.
F. H. Bradley on Virtue
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Attributed to F. H. Bradley:
“My station and its duties: this is the only place in which I find my real self.”
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“I will begin with the self-styled "Christian" party, who profess to base their morality on the New Testament. But whether it is really more Christian to follow or to ignore the teachings of the Gospels I shall not discuss.”
The Limits of Individual and National Self-Sacrifice. -
“The deadliest foe to virtue would be complete self-knowledge.”
Aphorisms(1930) | No. 68.