Baruch Spinoza was a famous Dutch philosopher of the 17th century, known for his profound ideas and ethics. He is one of the important pioneers of modern philosophy and is known as the "father of philosophy". Emphasizing reason, freedom, and natural law, Spinoza proposed a moral philosophy that emphasized the importance of rational freedom in order to achieve the goals of happiness and moral behavior. He was the first to put forward that "the purpose of politics is freedom", which laid the ideological and theoretical foundation for the expansion of the Enlightenment. One of his important representatives is his work "Ethics", in which his ethical views are expounded. Spinoza's ideas had a profound impact on later philosophical, ethical, and political theories, and are regarded as one of the important classics in the philosophical community.
Here are 15 of Spinoza's philosophical quotes that profoundly illustrate the nature of freedom, love, truth, and happiness.
1. "不求证的人永远不会改变他们的见解。 "（"Those who do not know how to hit the nail on the head will have to make do with hitting the nail on the neck." ）
Insight: This sentence reminds us to pursue knowledge and truth, and to constantly question and explore, only in this way can we change our views and concepts.
2. "自由的最高形式是理性的自由。 "（"The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding because to understand is to be free." ）
Insight: Spinoza believed that reason and understanding are the highest human activities, and that through understanding we can achieve freedom.
3. "与自然和谐相处是智慧的真正表现。 "（"The highest endeavor of the mind, and the highest virtue, is to understand things by reason." ）
Insight: Wisdom is not only manifested in rational thinking, but also in how we live in harmony with nature and understand things with reason.
4. "爱是一种激发内在活力的情感。 "（"Desire is the very essence of man." ）
Insight: Spinoza believes that desire is the essence of human beings, and it can stimulate inner vitality and motivation.
5. "真正的道德是基于理性和智慧的。 "（"The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding because to understand is to be free." ）
Insight: Spinoza believed that true moral behavior is based on reason and wisdom, not on fear or reward.
6. "幸福不在于拥有财富，而在于理智和智慧的追求。 "（"The more you struggle to live, the less you live. Give up the notion that you must be sure of what you are doing. Instead, surrender to what is real within you, for that alone is sure." ）
Insight: Happiness is not obtained through the pursuit of wealth and material enjoyment, but through the pursuit of reason and wisdom, as well as the recognition of inner truth.
7. "真理不仅可以被发现，还可以被理解。 "（"All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare." ）
Perception: Truth and excellence are often difficult to find and understand, but they are worth pursuing.
8. "人应该追求自身的完美，而不是模仿别人。 "（"Do not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand." ）
Perception: Don't be too complaining or angry, but understand things and pursue your own perfection.
9. "真正的自由在于理性和道德的自由。 "（"Freedom is absolutely necessary for the progress in science and the liberal arts." ）
Insight: Spinoza believed that true freedom involves not only political and social freedom, but also rational and moral freedom.
10. "人的本性是社会的，而不是孤立的。 "（"Men are mistaken in thinking themselves free; their opinion is made up of consciousness of their own actions, and ignorance of the causes by which they are conditioned." ）
Insight: Human behaviour and decisions are influenced by society and the environment, and we need to recognize this.
11. "真正的爱不是基于欲望，而是基于理解和共鸣。 "（"Love is the highest passion, that overcomes all the rest." ）
Insight: Spinoza believed that true love is a noble passion that overcomes all other desires and emotions.
12. "快乐不是放纵欲望，而是理性的满足。 "（"No one can seek after blessedness who is guided by desire." ）
Insight: Happiness does not come from constantly satisfying desires, but from rational choice and satisfaction.
13. "了解自己是智慧的开始。 "（"All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare." ）
Perception: The starting point of wisdom is to understand oneself, and only by understanding oneself can we better understand the world and life.
14. "真理是智慧的果实。 "（"The more you struggle to live, the less you live. Give up the notion that you must be sure of what you are doing. Instead, surrender to what is real within you, for that alone is sure." ）
Perception: The pursuit of truth is the manifestation of wisdom, and truth is the fruit of wisdom.
15. "道德行为是通过理性的选择来实现的。 "（"All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare." ）
Insight: Moral behavior is not achieved out of blind obedience, but through rational choice and thinking, which is the embodiment of wisdom.