The man who has sufficient power over himself to wait until his nature has recovered its even balance is the truly wise man, but such beings are seldom met with.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
Heart and head are the constituent parts of character; temperament has almost nothing to do with it, and, therefore, character is dependent upon education, and is susceptible of being corrected and improved.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Character is shaped more by education than by temperament, highlighting the capacity for growth and improvement.
In this quote, Giacomo Casanova emphasizes that a person's character is primarily formed through education and learning rather than their inherent temperament. He suggests that while emotional and rational aspects of a person play a role, the opportunity for personal development and refinement lies in education, indicating that anyone can improve their character through dedication to learning and self-correction.
Themes
CharacterEducationTemperamentImprovementGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
A teacher could use this quote to inspire students to value their education as a means to improve their character.
More from Giacomo Casanova
All quotes →I have met with some of them - very honest fellows, who, with all their stupidity, had a kind of intelligence and an upright good sense, which cannot be the characteristics of fools.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
From that moment our love became sad, and sadness is a disease which gives the death-blow to affection.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
The mind of a human being is formed only of comparisons made in order to examine analogies, and therefore cannot precede the existence of memory.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
For my future I have no concern, and as a true philosopher, I never would have any, for I know not what it may be: as a Christian, on the other hand, faith must believe without discussion, and the stronger it is, the more it keeps silent.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
I have had friends who have acted kindly towards me, and it has been my good fortune to have it in my power to give them substantial proofs of my gratitude.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
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