Welcome to our compilation of Bernard Williams quotes! Bernard Williams was a distinguished philosopher whose works delved into various aspects of ethics, politics, and the human condition. Born in 1929, Williams became known for his incisive analysis and thought-provoking insights into complex philosophical dilemmas. His contributions to moral philosophy, particularly in the areas of utilitarianism and moral luck, have left an indelible mark on contemporary philosophical discourse.
Throughout his career, Bernard Williams challenged conventional wisdom and offered profound reflections on the nature of morality, freedom, and identity. His nuanced understanding of human behavior and motivations continues to inspire scholars and thinkers across disciplines. In this collection, we bring together some of his most memorable quotes, which encapsulate his keen observations and philosophical wisdom. Whether you’re a student of philosophy, an admirer of intellectual discourse, or simply seeking inspiration, these quotes are sure to spark contemplation and reflection. Explore the words of Bernard Williams below and discover the depth of his philosophical insight.
The truth is that we all have to do more things than we can rightly do, if we are to do anything at all. Bernard Williams
Contemporary moral philosophy has found an original way of being boring, which is by not discussing moral issues at all. Bernard Williams
I like the word ‘indolence’. It makes my laziness seem classy. Bernard Williams
I was attracted to opera when I was 15 or 16. A very rich man in England bankrupted himself to put on a lot of opera during the war, but he converted a lot of people, myself included, in the process. Bernard Williams
Women have a favorite room, men a favorite chair. Bernard Williams
Disagreement does not necessarily have to be overcome. It may remain an important and constitutive feature of our relations to others and also be seen as something that is merely to be expected in the light of the best explanations we have of how such disagreement arises. Bernard Williams
The people I really do dislike are the morally unimaginative kind of evolutionary reductionists who, in the name of science, think they can explain everything in terms of our early hominid ancestors or our genes, with their combination of high-handed tone and disregard for history. Such reductive speculation encourages a really empty scientism. Bernard Williams
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. Bernard Williams
There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope. Bernard Williams
A half-truth is usually less than half of that. Bernard Williams
A friend is a lot of things, but a critic isn’t. Bernard Williams
Tragedy is formed ’round ideas it does not expound, and to understand its history is, in some part, to understand those ideas and their place in the society that produced it. Bernard Williams
Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit. Bernard Williams
If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance. Bernard Williams
‘Humanity’ is a name not merely for a species but also for a quality. Bernard Williams
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. Bernard Williams
The majority of philosophers are totally humorless. That’s part of their trouble. Bernard Williams
We grow a little every time we do not take advantage of somebody’s weakness. Bernard Williams
Books had instant replay long before televised sports. Bernard Williams
I was interested in philosophy before I knew I was. That’s to say, when I was at school, I used to argue with my friends about issues that turned out to be philosophical ones of some kind. Bernard Williams
What a strange world this would be if we all had the same sense of humor. Bernard Williams
We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory. Bernard Williams
An extravagance is something that your spirit thinks is a necessity. Bernard Williams
Life is supposed to be a series of peaks and valleys. The secret is to keep the valleys from becoming Grand Canyons. Bernard Williams
People who say, ‘Let the chips fall where they may,’ usually figure they will not be hit by a chip. Bernard Williams
The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. Bernard Williams
Few things are as democratic as a snowstorm. Bernard Williams
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 Williams
People who express themselves in paradoxes are in a strong position; and the more outrageous the paradox, in general the stronger the position. Bernard Williams
Talent is a flame. Genius is a fire. Bernard Williams
If there’s one theme in all my work, it’s about authenticity and self-expression. It’s the idea that some things are, in some real sense, really you – or express what you and others aren’t. Bernard Williams
Philosophy is altogether less pure now. It’s been impurified by science and social science and history. Bernard Williams
