As I take up my pen I feel myself so full, so equal to my subject, and see my book so clearly before me in embryo, I would almost like to try to say it all in a single word. Georg C. Lichtenberg More Quotes by Georg C. Lichtenberg More Quotes From Georg C. Lichtenberg 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. Georg C. Lichtenberg dark clouds war The noble simplicity in the works of nature only too often originates in the noble shortsightedness of him who observes it. Georg C. Lichtenberg simplicity noble nature 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. Georg C. Lichtenberg power self people The American who first discovered Columbus made a bad discovery. Georg C. Lichtenberg columbus discovery firsts 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. Georg C. Lichtenberg clever men children If another Messiah was born he could hardly do so much good as the printing-press. Georg C. Lichtenberg messiah printing born 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. Georg C. Lichtenberg wish doe believe A good metaphor is something even the police should keep an eye on. Georg C. Lichtenberg metaphor police eye He who is in love with himself has at least this advantage - he won't encounter many rivals. Georg C. Lichtenberg rivals encounters love Cautiousness in judgment is nowadays to be recommended to each and every one: if we gained only one incontestable truth every ten years from each of our philosophical writers the harvest we reaped would be sufficient. Georg C. Lichtenberg philosophical would-be years The natural scientists of the previous age knew less than we do and believed they were very close to the goal: we have taken very great steps in its direction and now discover we are still very far away from it. With the most rational philosophers an increase in their knowledge is always attended by an increased conviction of their ignorance. Georg C. Lichtenberg ignorance taken science Many intelligent people, when about to write . . . , force on their minds a certain notion about style, just as they screw up their faces when they sit for their portraits. Georg C. Lichtenberg intelligent writing people The writer who cannot sometimes throw away a thought about which another man would have written dissertations, without worry whether or not the reader will find it, will never become a great writer. Georg C. Lichtenberg worry writing men To many people virtue consists chiefly in repenting faults, not in avoiding them. Georg C. Lichtenberg faults integrity people Reading means borrowing. Georg C. Lichtenberg reading mean book Man is to be found in reason, God in the passions. Georg C. Lichtenberg passion god men He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly does not yet know every kind of flattery. Georg C. Lichtenberg flattery hate doe Those who never have time do least Georg C. Lichtenberg achievement Deliberate virtue is never worth much: The virtue of feeling or habit is the thing. Georg C. Lichtenberg virtue habit feelings What a blessing it would be if we could open and shut our ears...as easily as we open and shut our eyes. Georg C. Lichtenberg eye loss life
