William Godwin
William Godwin
William Godwinwas an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and the first modern proponent of anarchism. Godwin is most famous for two books that he published within the space of a year: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, an attack on political institutions, and Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams, which attacks aristocratic privilege, but also is the first mystery novel. Based on the success of both,...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth3 March 1756
William Godwin quotes about
By right, as the word is employed in this subject, has always been understood discretion, that is, a full and complete power of either doing a thing or omitting it, without the person's becoming liable to animadversion or censure from another, that is, in other words, without his incurring any degree of turpitude or guilt. Now in this sense I affirm that man has no rights, no discretionary power whatever.
There is no sphere in which a human being can be supposed to act where one mode of reasoning will not, in every given instance, be more reasonable than any other mode. That mode the being is bound by every principle of justice to pursue.
He has no right to his life when his duty calls him to resign it. Other men are bound ... to deprive him of life or liberty, if that should appear in any case to be indispensably necessary to prevent a greater evil.
In a well-written book we are presented with the maturest reflections, or the happiest flights of a mind of uncommon excellence. It is impossible that we can be much accustomed to such companions without attaining some resemblance to them.
Literature, taken in all its bearings, forms the grand line of demarcation between the human and the animal kingdoms.
Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness.
No maxim can be more pernicious than that which would teach us to consult the temper of the times, and to tell only so much as we imagine our contemporaries will be able to bear.
Duty is that mode of action on the part of the individual which constitutes the best possible application of his capacity to the general benefit.
A celebrated north country apostle, who, after Calvin had damned ninety-nine in a hundred of mankind, had contrived a scheme for damning ninety-nine in a hundred of the followers of Calvin.
The virtue of a human being is the application of his capacity to the general good.
Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.
My thoughts will be taken up with the future or the past, with what is to come or what has been. Of the present there is necessarily no image.
One of the prerogatives by which man is eminently distinguished from all other living beings inhabiting this globe of earth, consists in the gift of reason.
We cannot perform our tasks to the best of our power, unless we think well of our own capacity.