Fanaticism obliterates the feelings of humanity.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
Extreme positions are not succeeded by moderate ones, but by contrary extreme positions.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
To the indefinite, uncertain mind of the American radical the most contradictory ideas and methods are possible. The result is a sad chaos in the radical movement, a sort of intellectual hash, which has neither taste nor character.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
So over violent, or over civil that every man with him was God or Devil.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Like other revolutionaries I can thank God for the reactionaries. They clarify the issue.
—R. G. Collingwood (1889–1943) English Philosopher, Historian, Archaeologist
Fervor is the weapon of choice of the impotent.
—Frantz Fanon (1925–61) French-Martinique Psychoanalyst, Philosopher
My generation of radicals and breakers-down never found anything to take the place of the old virtues of work and courage and the old graces of courtesy and politeness.
—Unknown
The most dangerous madmen are those created by religion, and people whose aim is to disrupt society always know how to make good use of them on occasion.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Just as every conviction begins as a whim so does every emancipator serve his apprenticeship as a crank. A fanatic is a great leader who is just entering the room.
—Heywood Hale Broun (1918–2001) American Journalist, Commentator, Actor
A radical is a man with both feet firmly planted — in the air. A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward. A reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards. A liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest — at the command — of his head.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
The downright fanatic is nearer to the heart of things than the cool and slippery disputant.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
I carry from my mother’s womb a fanatic’s heart.
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
The man visited by ecstasies and visions, who takes dreams for realities is an enthusiast; the man who supports his madness with murder is a fanatic.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Defined in psychological terms, a fanatic is a man who consciously over-compensates a secret doubt.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
Throughout human history, the apostles of purity, those who have claimed to possess a total explanation, have wrought havoc among mere mixed-up human beings.
—Salman Rushdie (b.1947) Indian-born British Novelist
Railing and praising were his usual themes; and both showed his judgment in extremes. Either over violent or over civil, so everyone to him was either god or devil.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
The spirit of our American radicalism is destructive and aimless; it is not loving; it has no ulterior and divine ends; but is destructive only out of hatred and selfishness.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
No violent extreme endures.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
There is no place in a fanatic’s head where reason can enter.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
In the history of mankind, fanaticism has caused more harm than vice.
—Louis Kronenberger (1904–80) American Drama, Literary Critic
Fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Our age knows nothing but reaction, and leaps from one extreme to another.
—Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American Christian Theologian
Everybody knows that fanaticism is religion caricatured, and yet, with many, contempt of fanaticism is regarded as a sign of hostility to religion.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
For virtue’s self may too much zeal be had; the worst of madmen is a saint run mad.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Fanatics are picturesque, mankind would rather see gestures than listen to reasons.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Radical simply means “grasping things at the root.”
—Angela Davis (b.1944) American Political Activist, Academic
I never dared to be radical when young for fear it would make me conservative when old.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Fanaticism soberly defined, is the false fire of an over heated mind.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Leave a Reply