Explore Quotes by Georg C. Lichtenberg

Nothing puts a greater obstacle in the way of the progress of knowledge than thinking that one knows what one does not yet know.

He was always smoothing and polishing himself, and in the end he became blunt before he was sharp.

To grow wiser means to learn to know better and better the faults to which this instrument with which we feel and judge can be subject.

I have often noticed that when people come to understand a mathematical proposition in some other way than that of the ordinary demonstration, they promptly say, "Oh, I see. That's how it must be." This is a sign that they explain it to themselves from within their own system.

Even truth needs to be clad in new garments if it is to appeal to a new age.

Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on ahead and reconnoiter the ground which the heavy brigade of the orthodox will eventually occupy.

To err is human also in so far as animals seldom or never err, or at least only the cleverest of them do so.

He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly does not yet know every kind of flattery.

Man can acquire accomplishments or he can become an animal, whichever he wants. God makes the animals, man makes himself.

Man is to be found in reason, God in the passions.

Reason now gazes above the realm of the dark but warm feelings as the Alpine peaks do above the clouds. They behold the sun more clearly and distinctly, but they are cold and unfruitful.

Food probably has a very great influence on the condition of men. Wine exercises a more visible influence, food does it more slowly but perhaps just as surely. Who knows if a well-prepared soup was not responsible for the pneumatic pump or a poor one for a war?

The great rule: If the little bit you have is nothing special in itself, at least find a way of saying it that is a little bit special.

The noble simplicity in the works of nature only too often originates in the noble shortsightedness of him who observes it.

One cannot demand of a scholar that he show himself a scholar everywhere in society, but the whole tenor of his behavior must none the less betray the thinker, he must always be instructive, his way of judging a thing must even in the smallest matters be such that people can see what it will amount to when, quietly and self-collected, he puts this power to scholarly use.

The American who first discovered Columbus made a bad discovery.

A clever child brought up with a foolish one can itself become foolish. Man is so perfectible and corruptible he can become a fool through good sense.

If another Messiah was born he could hardly do so much good as the printing-press.

Affectation is a very good word when someone does not wish to confess to what he would none the less like to believe of himself.

A good metaphor is something even the police should keep an eye on.

He who is in love with himself has at least this advantage - he won't encounter many rivals.