Things That Characterise The Philosopher

Friedrich Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals, 3rd Essay, sect. 8 (Horace B. Samuel):

But a spirit who is sure of himself speaks softly; he seeks secrecy, he lets himself be awaited. 

A philosopher . . . shuns every glaring light: therefore he shuns his time and its «daylight.» Therein he is as a shadow; the deeper sinks the sun, the greater grows the shadow. As for his humility, he endures, as he endures darkness, a certain dependence and obscurity: further, he is afraid of the shock of lightning, he shudders at the insecurity of a tree which is too isolated and too exposed, on which every storm vents its temper, every temper its storm. His «maternal» instinct, his secret love for that which grows in him, guides him into states where he is relieved from the necessity of taking care of himself, in the same way in which the «mother» instinct in woman has thoroughly maintained up to the present woman's dependent position. After all, they demand little enough, do these philosophers, their favourite motto is, «He who possesses is possessed.» All this is not, as I must say again and again, to be attributed to a virtue, to a meritorious wish for moderation and simplicity; but because their supreme lord so demands of them, demands wisely and inexorably; their lord who is eager only for one thing, for which alone he musters, and for which alone he hoards everything—time, strength, love, interest. 

This kind of man likes not to be disturbed by enmity, he likes not to be disturbed by friendship, it is a type which forgets or despises easily. It strikes him as bad form to play the martyr, «to suffer for truth»—he leaves all that to the ambitious and to the stage-heroes of the intellect, and to all those, in fact, who have time enough for such luxuries (they themselves, the philosophers, have something to do for truth). They make a sparing use of big words; they are said to be adverse to the word «truth» itself: it has a «high falutin'» ring.

Philosophers And Taking Dicision

Friedrich Schiller, The Philosophers, tr. Edgar A. Bowring:

PUPIL.

 I am rejoiced, worthy sirs, to find you in pleno assembled;

   For I have come down below, seeking the one needful thing.

 ARISTOTLE.

 Quick to the point, my good friend! For the Jena Gazette comes

    to hand here,

  Even in hell,—so we know all that is passing above.

 PUPIL.

 So much the better! So give me (I will not depart hence without it)

  Some good principle now,—one that will always avail!

 FIRST PHILOSOPHER.

 Cogito, ergo sum. I have thought, and therefore existence!

  If the first be but true, then is the second one sure.

 PUPIL.

 As I think, I exist. 'Tis good! But who always is thinking?

  Oft I've existed e'en when I have been thinking of naught.

 SECOND PHILOSOPHER.

 Since there are things that exist, a thing of all things there must

    needs be;

  In the thing of all things dabble we, just as we are.

 THIRD PHILOSOPHER.

 Just the reverse, say I. Besides myself there is nothing;

  Everything else that there is is but a bubble to me.

 FOURTH PHILOSOPHER.

 Two kinds of things I allow to exist,—the world and the spirit;

  Naught of others I know; even these signify one.

 FIFTH PHILOSOPHER.

 I know naught of the thing, and know still less of the spirit;

  Both but appear unto me; yet no appearance they are.

 SIXTH PHILOSOPHER.

 I am I, and settle myself,—and if I then settle

  Nothing to be, well and good—there's a nonentity formed.

 SEVENTH PHILOSOPHER.

 There is conception at least! A thing conceived there is, therefore;

  And a conceiver as well,—which, with conception, make three.

 PUPIL.

 All this nonsense, good sirs, won't answer my purpose a tittle:

  I a real principle need,—one by which something is fixed.

 EIGHTH PHILOSOPHER.

 Nothing is now to be found in the theoretical province;

  Practical principles hold, such as: thou canst, for thou shouldst.

 PUPIL.

 If I but thought so! When people know no more sensible answer,

  Into the conscience at once plunge they with desperate haste.

 DAVID HUME.

 Don't converse with those fellows! That Kant has turned them all crazy;

  Speak to me, for in hell I am the same that I was.

 LAW POINT.

 I have made use of my nose for years together to smell with;

  Have I a right to my nose that can be legally proved?

 PUFFENDORF.

 Truly a delicate point! Yet the first possession appeareth

  In thy favor to tell; therefore make use of it still!

 SCRUPLE OF CONSCIENCE.

 Willingly serve I my friends; but, alas, I do it with pleasure;

  Therefore I often am vexed that no true virtue I have.

 DECISION.

 As there is no other means, thou hadst better begin to despise them;

  And with aversion, then, do that which thy duty commands.