Which is more dangerous: fanaticism or atheism? Fanaticism is certainly a thousand times more deadly; for atheism inspires no bloody passion whereas fanaticism does; atheism is opposed to crime and fanaticism causes crimes to be committed.
It is absurd to expect governments to descend gradually, step-by-step into barbarism - as if there was a train schedule to political hell and people could get off at any stop along the way.
The opposite of compromise is not integrity. The opposite of compromise is not idealism. The opposite of compromise is fanaticism and death. And yes, I know one or two things about fanaticism and death, and I reject them. The alternative to fanaticism and to death is not some miraculous realization that someone has been wrong and he has to apologize. No, the answer to fanaticism and to death is curiosity and compromise and concession.
Whether you were Moslem, Christian, Druze, or Israeli, remember, God protect thee, that religious fanaticism for political goals or political fanaticism for religious purposes is the worst kind of fanaticism.
letters are not the first, but the last step in the progression from barbarism to civilisation.
Friedrich Engels once said: "Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism." What does "regression into barbarism" mean to our lofty European civilization? Until now, we have all probably read and repeated these words thoughtlessly, without suspecting their fearsome seriousness. A look around us at this moment shows what the regression of bourgeois society into barbarism means. This world war is a regression into barbarism. The triumph of imperialism leads to the annihilation of civilization.
My teacher says that everything that you want in the world is one step away, you just have to figure out which direction to step in.
What a vast difference there is between the barbarism that precedes culture and the barbarism that follows it.
Fanaticism is the danger of the world, and always has been, and has done untold harm. I might almost say that I was fanatical against fanaticism.
Barbarism is not the inheritance of our pre-history. It is the companion that dogs our every step.
I'm really good at improvising on stage, so if I'd forget a step, I'll just make up something. And the rest of the dancers would be like... what is she doing!? It always looked like they have forgotten the step, so I got away with it!
It has been said that civilization is twenty-four hours and two meals away from barbarism.
The new spirituality will step away from dogma, will step away from 'We're right and you're wrong.'
The alternative to fanaticism and to death is not some miraculous realization that someone has been wrong and he has to apologize. No, the answer to fanaticism and to death is curiosity and compromise and concession.
From barbarism to civilization requires a century; from civilization to barbarism needs but a day.