African Spir Quotes

There is a radical dualism between the empirical nature of man and its moral nature.

The most sacred duty, the supreme and urgent work, is to deliver humanity from the malediction of Cain - fratricidal war.

Only a moral education based on free inner discipline can bring to bear a salutary action and lead to a true morality.

The realization of justice is, in the actual state of things, a matter of life or death for society and for civilisation itself.

To sacrifice the moral to the physical, as is done in these days, is to sacrifice reality for a shadow.

It depends on ourselves to be to each others, either a blessing or a torment.

Arbitrariness and true liberty are as distinct from each other that the empirical nature is distinct from the higher nature of man.

The supreme blossoming of character lies (or reside) in renounciation (or renuncement) and abnegation of self ("abnégation de soi", Fr.)

Whoever has recognized the vainglory of individuality will not attach any store ("n'attachera aucun prix à", Fr.) to fame. The only one thing which is really valuable, it is to do good.

The precept to worship God 'in spirit and in truth' recommand to worship him as an inward and moral force, without physical attributes and with no relation to fears and egoist wishes.

In this world everything that is won to the ideal, is an eternal (or imperishable, - "impérissable", Fr.) good.

Place (or put) a spider on top of a mountain, it will only try to catch flies; alas, they are many those who, in the figurative meaning, have spider's eyes.

What is the use for a man to have at his disposal a large field of action, if within himself he remains confine to the narrow limits of his individuality.

A good man ("un homme de bien", Fr.) never wholly perishes, the best part of his being outlives (or survives) in eternity.

To reform society, and with it humanity, there is only one mean; to transform the mentality of men, to direct them ("les orienter", Fr.) in a new spirit.

There is only one thing in the world that is really valuable, it is to do good.

The moral improvement demands an evolution leading to a higher consciousness.

In the actual state of social relationships, the forms ("formes", Fr.) of politeness are necessary as a subsitute to benevolence.

The first principle from which stems the moral of about all people at all time; it is summarized in this precept: Love thy neighbour as thyself, and: do as you would be done by.

The well understood equity as well as interest of society demand that we work on much more to prevent crime and offenses than to punish them.

As long as men will not be freed from their errors and delusions, humanity will not be able to go towards ("marcher vers", Fr.) the accomplishment of its true destinies.

Possessions of this world have not been for the exclusive use by such or such category of individuals.

It is not on the ruin of liberty that we may (in the future... - "pourra", Fr.) build justice.

We can, following the exemple of Kant, consider the moral development and improvement of men, as the supreme goal of human evolution.