An extravagance is something that your spirit thinks is a necessity.
Bernard WilliamsRead
Virtually the only subject in which one could ever get a scholarship to Oxford or Cambridge was classics. So I went to Oxford to study classics and, unlike Cambridge, it had a philosophy component, and I became completely transported by it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the importance of studying classics and philosophy, as it can deeply engage and transform an individual's intellectual pursuits.
Bernard Williams highlights his experience of studying classics at Oxford, emphasizing that the opportunity to explore philosophy within that discipline profoundly influenced him. This experience underscores the value of engaging with classic texts and philosophical thoughts, suggesting that such studies can be transformative and enlightening for students.
Themes
EducationPhilosophyClassicsOxfordWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the importance of a classical education, one might quote Bernard Williams.
More from Bernard Williams
All quotes →There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.
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Contemporary moral philosophy has found an original way of being boring, which is by not discussing moral issues at all.
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The majority of philosophers are totally humorless. That's part of their trouble.
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People have been predicting the death of philosophy since the 17th century. When I was a student, people were saying, 'We're in the last days of philosophy.' Then we were told in the '60s it would be replaced by sociology, then by literary criticism.
Bernard WilliamsRead
If we try and fail, we have temporary disappointments. But if we do not try at all, we have permanent regrets.
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The makers of dictionaries are dependent upon specialists for their definitions. A specialist's definition may be true or it may be erroneous. But its truth cannot be increased or its error diminished by its acceptance by the lexicographer. Each definition must stand on its own merits.
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The sweetest path of life leads through the avenues of learning, and whoever can open up the way for another, ought, so far, to be esteemed a benefactor to mankind.
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