|
summum bonum SOOM-uhm BO-nuhm noun the greatest good; the supreme good 1651Thomas HobbesLeviathanFor there is no such finis ultimus (utmost aim) nor summum bonum (greatest good) as is spoken of in the books of the old moral philosophers.1861John Stuart MillUtilitarianismFrom the dawn of philosophy, the question concerning the summum bonum, or, what is the same thing, concerning the foundation of morality, has been accounted the main problem in speculative thought, has occupied the most gifted intellects, and divided them into sects and schools, carrying on a vigorous warfare against one another.1964Ian FlemingYou Only Live Twice...the 'quick buck', often dishonestly earned, or earned in exchange for minimal labour or skills, are the summum bonum, if you will allow the sentimental echo from my Oxford education.'1978James A. MichenerChesapeakeTo him, England was a respected family memory; he had been educated there, but it was not the summum bonum.Labels: Ian Fleming, James A. Michener, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Hobbes
|
Permalink: summum bonum
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
sciolist SAI-uh-list noun a pretender to knowledge; a dabbler 1861John Stuart MillConsiderations on Representative GovernmentClauses omitted which are essential to the working of the rest; incongruous ones inserted to conciliate some private interest, or some crotchety member who threatens to delay the bill; articles foisted in on the motion of some sciolist with a mere smattering of the subject, leading to consequences which the member who introduced or those who supported the bill did not at the moment foresee, and which need an amending act in the next session to correct their mischiefs.1910Arthur Christopher BensonThe Silent IsleNo doubt, if the writer in question made any claim to be discussing the latest theological position on the subject of the Atonement, in a technical way, he would be a mere sciolist; but he is only claiming to discuss the Current conception of the Atonement; and, as far as I can judge, he states it fairly enough.1935Kenneth RobesonDoc Savage: Spook Hole'Exacerbative sciolist in cognoscence,' said Johnny.Labels: Arthur Christopher Benson, John Stuart Mill, Kenneth Robeson
|
Permalink: sciolist
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
heterodox HET-ur-uh-dawks adjective unorthodox opinions; opinions divergent from the norm; not orthodox 1766Jonathan SwiftThe Journal to StellaProbably William Whiston, who was deprived of the Lucasian professorship at Cambridge in 1710 for his heterodox views.1871John Stuart MillAutobiographyAll of these who had anything in them, myself among others, quickly outgrew this boyish vanity; and those who had not, became tired of differing from other people, and gave up both the good and the bad part of the heterodox opinions they had for some time professed.1887Bret HarteThe Crusade of the ExcelsiorThe march of science, which had been stopped by the local fogs of Todos Santos some fifty years, had not disturbed the simple Aesculapius of the province with heterodox theories: he still purged and bled like Sangrado, and met the priest at the deathbed of his victims with a pious satisfaction that had no trace of skeptical contention.1924Lewis HodusBuddhism and Buddhists in China...his daughter was associating with a young monk discussing heterodox doctrines…Labels: Bret Harte, John Stuart Mill, Jonathan Swift, Lewis Hodus
|
Permalink: heterodox
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
inveigh in-VAY verb to rail against; to bitterly complain; venting of disapproval 1861John Stuart MillUtilitarianismWe not uncommonly hear the doctrine of utility inveighed against as a godless doctrine.1869Matthew ArnoldCulture and AnarchyFor instance, when the Reform League orators inveigh against our cruel and bloated aristocracy, these invectives so evidently show the passions and point of view of the Populace, that they do not sink into the minds of those at whom they are addressed, or awaken any thought or self-examination in them.1884John Sherburne SleeperJack in the ForecastleBut Captain Thompson, the next day, when I received my half month's pay in advance, and informed him of my arrangements, called me a fool, and inveighed in bitter terms against the whole race of sailor landlords.2001David Drake Foreign Legions A few had chosen not to, and Father Timothy had agreed, under the circumstances, not to inveigh against them.Labels: David Drake, John Sherburne Sleeper, John Stuart Mill, Matthew Arnold
|
Permalink: inveigh
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
|
BIO
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
RECENT POSTS
