To find yourself, think for yourself. —Socrates In our ever-busier world, where the demands of the moment keep us lurching from one task or crisis to the next, it can be difficult to take a moment and reflect on the most important things in life. The Essential Wisdom of the World’s Greatest Thinkers helps us do just that. Gathered in this collection are hundreds of memorable quotations collected from some of the greatest minds and most important figures in human history. Here are philosophers, scholars, and writers; poets, politicians, and leaders; saints, scientists, and activists. The selections are arranged thematically and illustrate the particular genius of each speaker, even as they reveal certain universal themes common to all of humankind.