Eric Hoffer Quotes

There is no loneliness greater than the loneliness of a failure. The failure is a stranger in his own house.
Eric Hoffer

Failure, Loneliness, House

We are more prone to generalize the bad than the good. We assume that the bad is more potent and contagious.
Eric Hoffer

Good, Bad, Assume

Every new adjustment is a crisis in self-esteem.
Eric Hoffer

Crisis, Adjustment

It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities.
Eric Hoffer

True, Human, Obstacles

The individual who has to justify his existence by his own efforts is in eternal bondage to himself.
Eric Hoffer

Himself, Individual, Existence

The misery of a child is interesting to a mother, the misery of a young man is interesting to a young woman, the misery of an old man is interesting to nobody.
Eric Hoffer

Mother, Woman, Young

To the old, the new is usually bad news.
Eric Hoffer

A heresy can spring only from a system that is in full vigor.
Eric Hoffer

Spring, System, Full

Action is at bottom a swinging and flailing of the arms to regain one's balance and keep afloat.
Eric Hoffer

Keep, Action, Balance

Every intense desire is perhaps a desire to be different from what we are.
Eric Hoffer

Different, Desire, Perhaps

Far more crucial than what we know or do not know is what we do not want to know.
Eric Hoffer

It is not so much the example of others we imitate as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words.
Eric Hoffer

Words, Eyes, Others

It is often the failure who is the pioneer in new lands, new undertakings, and new forms of expression.
Eric Hoffer

Failure, Often, Expression

It is remarkable by how much a pinch of malice enhances the penetrating power of an idea or an opinion. Our ears, it seems, are wonderfully attuned to sneers and evil reports about our fellow men.
Eric Hoffer

Men, Power, Evil

It is the around-the-corner brand of hope that prompts people to action, while the distant hope acts as an opiate.
Eric Hoffer

Hope, While, Action

It would be difficult to exaggerate the degree to which we are influenced by those we influence.
Eric Hoffer

Difficult, Influence, Degree

Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
Eric Hoffer

Kindness, Made, Become

Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.
Eric Hoffer

Impossible, Himself, Creature

Self-esteem and self-contempt have specific odors; they can be smelled.
Eric Hoffer

Specific, Smelled

Social improvement is attained more readily by a concern with the quality of results than with the purity of motives.
Eric Hoffer

Social, Quality, Results

The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.
Eric Hoffer

Happiness, Search, Chief

There are no chaste minds. Minds copulate wherever they meet.
Eric Hoffer

Minds, Meet, Wherever

There is in most passions a shrinking away from ourselves. The passionate pursuer has all the earmarks of a fugitive.
Eric Hoffer

Away, Ourselves, Passionate

There would be no society if living together depended upon understanding each other.
Eric Hoffer

Society, Together, Living

To know a person's religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance.
Eric Hoffer

Faith, Religion, Person

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.

Biography

Nationality: American

Type: Writer

Born: July 25, 1902

Died: May 21, 1983

Links

Find on Amazon: Eric Hoffer

Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Related Authors

Elbert Hubbard
Dr. Seuss
Napoleon Hill
Robert A. Heinlein
Dale Carnegie
H. L. Mencken
Ray Bradbury
Orison Swett Marden
More

Get Social with BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote of the Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

Syndication

Funny Quote Feed

Love Quote Feed

Nature Quote Feed

About Us