William of Ockham Quotes
William of Ockham was an English Franciscan friar, philosopher, and theologian, one of the most important figures of late medieval thought. He defended a thoroughgoing nominalism, denying the real existence of universals outside the mind, and he is remembered for the methodological principle of parsimony now known as Ockham's razor. The quotes below are attributed to William of Ockham, organized by topic.
William of Ockham on God
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Attributed to William of Ockham:
“All things are possible to God which are not contradictory.”
William of Ockham on Knowledge
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Attributed to William of Ockham:
“It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer.”
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Attributed to William of Ockham:
“Nothing is to be posited as necessary in nature unless it is established either by self-evidence, or by experience, or by the authority of Sacred Scripture.”
William of Ockham on Mind
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Attributed to William of Ockham:
“Every universal is a thought of the mind, and not anything outside the mind.”
William of Ockham on Politics
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Attributed to William of Ockham:
“No man is bound to obey what is contrary to natural reason.”
William of Ockham on Truth
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Attributed to William of Ockham:
“Plurality is not to be posited without necessity.”