To me there is pleasure in philosophy. Great people speak to us only so far as we have the ears and souls to hear them. Enjoy the words written below and as you begin the New Year, may one or more of the philosophical sayings inspire you to greatness, peace and prosperity in 2006.

"We need not be afraid of the word, if the reality is good which it betokens." Plato

"A group survives, in competition or conflict with another group, according to its unity and power, according to the ability of its members to cooperate for common ends. And what better cooperation could there be than that each should be doing that which he can do best? This is the goal of organization which every society must seek, if it would have life." Will Durant

"Life is the gift of nature; but beautiful living is the gift of wisdom." Greek adage

"There are some artists whose works are best judged not by themselves alone, but by those who do not possess the art; e.g., the user or master of a house will be a better judge of it than the builder; and the guest will be a better judge of a feast than the cook." Aristotle

"If what you have seems insufficient to you, then though you possess the world, you will be miserable." Roman Stoic Seneca

"We must not avoid pleasures, but we must select them." Epicurus

"Men ought to know that in the theatre of human life it is only for Gods and angels to be spectators." Francis Bacon

"As for the terms ‘good’ and ‘bad,’ they indicate nothing positive considered in themselves. For one and the same thing can at the same time be good, bad, and indifferent. For example, music is good to the melancholy, bad to mourners, and indifferent to the dead." Spinoza

"Doubt is not a very agreeable state, but certainty is a ridiculous one." Voltaire

"I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire

"The only thing unqualifiedly good in this world is a good will – the will to follow moral law regardless of the profit or loss for ourselves. Never mind your happiness; do your duty. Morality is not properly the doctrine how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness." Immanuel Kant

"Men are a thousand times more intent on becoming rich than on acquiring culture, though it is quite certain that what a man is contributes more to his happiness than what he has." Schopenhauer