Political philosophy/theory
"Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end."
- Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, 1785
http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/kantsgrounding/section5.rhtml
The fundamental idea that Kant introduces in the second half of Chapter 2 is that rational beings are "ends in themselves." When you settle on a course of action, Kant notes, you do not think of yourself as a means to some other purpose; you think of yourself as the purpose or "end" to which all your actions are directed. If you expect other people to accept your motives, you must respect the fact that other people also think of themselves as more than mere means to other goals. Thus your motives will lack universal validity unless you respect the fact that all rational beings have intrinsic worth, just as you do. The categorical imperative requires you to treat all your fellows as "ends in themselves"--that is, as objects of intrinsic value--and not as mere instruments for the attainment of your personal goals.
William E. Connolly: Agonistic Democracy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Connolly”
"No one was ever injured by the truth; but he who persists in self-deception and ignorance is injured." - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
"It is wrong, always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence." – W K Clifford, The Ethics of Belief, 1877
"Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity." - Kant
Chanakya: Arthashastra and Neetishastra
"Learn from the mistakes of others... you can't live long enough to make them all yourselves!!" - Chanakya
"Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person." - Chanakya
"Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth." - Chanakya
Mencius: Mengzi - anecdotes and conversations of the Confucian thinker and philosopher”
“@watcherreader , great selection !
Also, following the critique of pure reason are critique of practical reason, critique of judgment and the essay perpetual Peace, all are excellent reads.
The Critique of Pure Reason
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4280
The Critique of Practical Reason
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5683
The Critique of Judgment
http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/WorldeBookLibrary.com/crjudgement.htm
Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Essay by Immanuel Kant
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26585
http://www.archive.org/details/perpetual_peace_librivox”
