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Robert Shea Quotes

Powerful Robert Shea for Daily Growth

About Robert Shea

Robert Anton Wilson (September 18, 1932 – January 11, 2007) was an American writer, futurist, philosopher, and humorist, known for his collaborative works with Robert Anton Shea. His work spans across a wide range of genres including metaphysics, satire, science fiction, and conspiracy theory, making him a significant figure in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in various towns across the Midwest due to his father's job as an itinerant salesman. This nomadic childhood likely contributed to Wilson's open-mindedness and eclecticism. He attended college at the University of Chicago where he studied philosophy, psychology, and creative writing. In 1965, Wilson moved to New York City and worked as a scriptwriter for CBS Radio News, a job which allowed him to meet notable figures such as Timothy Leary and Marshall McLuhan. These encounters influenced his work significantly, particularly the ideas of chaos theory, the nature of reality, and the power of information. Wilson's most notable work is the Illuminati trilogy, co-authored with Robert Shea. The first book, "The Illuminatus! Trilogy" (1975) is a sprawling, intricate work that weaves together conspiracy theories, satire, and countercultural philosophy. Other notable works include "Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati" (1977), which delves into Wilson's personal experiences with psychedelics and his exploration of mysticism, and "Prometheus Rising" (1983), a self-help book that introduces the concept of the 15 Evolutions of Man. Throughout his life, Wilson remained an advocate for individual freedom, personal growth, and the exploration of unconventional ideas. His work continues to inspire critical thinking and philosophical inquiry among readers.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Truth is a matter of the imagination."

This quote suggests that truth isn't solely based on facts or evidence, but also on how we perceive and interpret reality. In other words, our personal understanding, perspective, and imagination play significant roles in shaping what we consider as 'truth'. This view challenges the traditional notion of objective truth and underscores the subjective nature of human knowledge and perception.

"The purpose of power is not to have no opponents, but to create them."

This quote suggests that having power is not about eliminating opposition or enemies, but rather about inspiring, creating, or generating new oppositions. It implies that power serves a purpose in fostering growth, progress, and healthy competition, as these dynamics can drive positive change, foster innovation, and ultimately lead to a more vibrant society.

"Revolution is not an academic exercise, it's not a game. Revolution is a war against the rich and powerful and the ruling classes, and they fight back."

This quote by Robert Shea suggests that revolution is a serious, life-threatening struggle between the oppressed and the privileged. It indicates that revolutions are not theoretical or academic but rather practical measures taken to challenge and overthrow the existing power structure. The "rich and powerful" and the ruling classes are seen as opponents in this conflict, and they will respond with resistance, often using their resources and influence to preserve their power. Thus, the quote underscores the intensity and danger inherent in revolutionary movements, as well as the need for courage and determination among those seeking change.

"It's amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit."

This quote by Robert Shea highlights the importance of collective success over individual recognition. It suggests that true progress and accomplishment often occur when people are focused on achieving a goal, rather than on receiving praise or recognition for their contributions. The message is that selfless collaboration can lead to significant achievements, and sometimes, it doesn't matter who gets credit as long as the task is completed successfully. This mindset fosters a team spirit, encourages cooperation, and contributes to a more productive and harmonious environment.

"The future, like the present, is too important to be left in the hands of those who are under thirty."

This quote by Robert Shea suggests that youth should not be disregarded or excluded from decision-making processes because the future, much like the present, holds significant importance. He implies that young people have valuable insights and ideas, and their contributions can positively impact society and its development. In essence, he encourages us to involve and empower the younger generation in shaping our collective destiny.

A permanent division of labor inevitably creates occupational and class inequality and conflict.

- Robert Shea

Division, Inequality, Inevitably

That the more authoritarian organizations survive and prevail goes generally unnoticed because people focus on the objectives of organizations, which are many and varied, rather than on their structures, which lend to be similar.

- Robert Shea

Unnoticed, Similar, Which, Authoritarian

It often happens that when a person possesses a particular ability to an extraordinary degree, nature makes up for it by leaving him or her incompetent in every other department.

- Robert Shea

Nature, Degree, Other, Possesses

Indeed, if our ancestors of millions of years ago hadn't learned how to care for one another and hunt in packs, they'd all have ended up being eaten by leopards.

- Robert Shea

Hunt, Another, Learned, Eaten

But the more an organization succeeds and prospers, the more it is likely to be diverted from its original ideals, principles and purposes.

- Robert Shea

Succeeds, Likely, Diverted, Prospers

Because the better an organization is at fulfilling its purpose, the more it attracts people who see the organization as an opportunity to advance themselves.

- Robert Shea

Opportunity, Purpose, More, Attracts

Organized religion provides a model of the way all organizations, from the state down to the village garden club, end a price in terms of a member's freedom of thought and action.

- Robert Shea

Thought, Down, Way, Garden

Even while we busily attend meetings, contribute money and perform our assigned tasks, we suspect that we may be helping to create a force that is inimical to many values we hold dear.

- Robert Shea

Attend, May, Helping, Tasks

This whole phenomenon of the diversion of organizations from their purposes and ideals does not seem very serious when the scum rise to the top in the bridge club or the offices of a small magazine publisher.

- Robert Shea

Small, Very, Ideals, Publisher

The Gnostics were rapidly driven out of business by the hierarchical orthodox Christians.

- Robert Shea

Business, Christians, Were, Hierarchical

One simple way to keep organizations from becoming cancerous might be to rotate all jobs on a regular, frequent and mandatory basis, including the leadership positions.

- Robert Shea

Becoming, Including, Rotate, Regular

Just as predatory animals follow a similar general design and behave in similar ways, so organizations, especially those in competition with one another, must follow certain design principles if they are to succeed and prevail.

- Robert Shea

Follow, Another, Similar, Prevail

The ability to get ahead in an organization is simply another talent, like the ability to play chess, paint pictures, do coronary bypass operations or pick pockets.

- Robert Shea

Play, Chess, Like, Bypass

The key element in tragedy is that heroes and heroines are destroyed by that which appears to be their greatest strength.

- Robert Shea

Strength, Heroines, Which, Key

Anyone who seeks power wants absolute power.

- Robert Shea

Wants, Absolute, Anyone, Seeks

As such people achieve influence within the organization, whenever there is a conflict between their own interest and the interest of the organization, their interests will win out.

- Robert Shea

Will, Achieve, Within, Conflict

Indeed, one of the most successful and influential religious organizations in history, the Society of Jesus, was consciously modeled along military lines by its founder, Ignatius Loyola.

- Robert Shea

Religious, Influential, Lines

Individuals, too, who cultivate a variety of skills seem brighter, more energetic and more adaptable than those who know how to do one thing only.

- Robert Shea

More, Energetic, Brighter, Adaptable

To reject even one major tenet of the religion or to violate one major rule of behavior is enough to get one kicked out - or worse.

- Robert Shea

Enough, Rule, Kicked, Violate

Every combination of two or more human beings has both a useful aspect and a political aspect.

- Robert Shea

More, Human Beings, Aspect, Useful

It is instructive, for instance, to trace the computer industry's decline in vision, idealism, creativity, romance and sheer fun as it becomes more and more important and prosperous.

- Robert Shea

Romance, Idealism, Instance, Trace

Of all human inventions the organization, a machine constructed of people performing interdependent functions, is the most powerful.

- Robert Shea

Constructed, Functions, Inventions

You are attached to what you attack.

- Robert Shea

You, Attached, Attack

Ultimately we may still ask, why can't humans design a perfect society?

- Robert Shea

Society, May, Still, Humans

But instead I usually say that, though it may surprise them, I too believe in the necessity of organization.

- Robert Shea

Surprise, May, Though, Organization

Military organization, like religious organization, can be seen as a paradigm of organization in general.

- Robert Shea

Like, Religious, General, Organization

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