I have remarked very clearly that I am often of one opinion when I am lying down and of another when I am standing up. Georg C. Lichtenberg More Quotes by Georg C. Lichtenberg More Quotes From Georg C. Lichtenberg The "second sight" possessed by the Highlanders in Scotland is actually a foreknowledge of future events. I believe they possess this gift because they don't wear trousers. Georg C. Lichtenberg scotlandsightbelieve As soon as you know a man to be blind, you imagine that you can see it from his back. Georg C. Lichtenberg imagineblindmen The ordinary man is ruined by the flesh lusting against the spirit; the scholar by the spirit lusting too much against the flesh. Georg C. Lichtenberg lustordinarymen To make a vow is a greater sin than to break one. Georg C. Lichtenberg vowsinbreak Those who have racked their brains to discover new proofs have perhaps been induced to do so by a compulsion they could not quite explain to themselves. Instead of giving us their new proofs they should have explained to us the motivation that constrained them to search for them. Georg C. Lichtenberg motivationshould-havegiving Do not judge God's world from your own. Trim your own hedge as you wish and plant your flowers in the patterns you can understand, but do not judge the garden of nature from your little window box. Georg C. Lichtenberg gardenflowerjudging People nowadays have such high hopes of America and the political conditions obtaining there that one might say the desires, at least the secret desires, of all enlightened Europeans are deflected to the west, like our magnetic needles. Georg C. Lichtenberg politicalamericapeople There are people who believe everything is sane and sensible that is done with a solemn face. ... It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say; when one has nothing to say, however, and none the less writes a whole book and makes truth ... into a liar - that I call an achievement. Georg C. Lichtenberg liarsbelieveart Before one blames, one should always find out whether one cannot excuse. To discover little faults has been always the particularity of such brains that are a little or not at all above the average. The superior ones keep quiet or say something against the whole and the great minds transform without blaming. Georg C. Lichtenberg mindbrainaverage It is certainly not a matter of indifference whether I learn something without effort or finally arrive at it myself through my system of thought. In the latter case everything has roots, in the former it is merely superficial. Georg C. Lichtenberg effortrootsmatter If countries were named after the words you first hear when you go there, England would have to be called Damn It. Georg C. Lichtenberg englandcountryfirsts Barbaric accuracy - whimpering humility. Georg C. Lichtenberg accuracycapitalismhumility Cultivate that kind of knowledge which enables us to discover for ourselves in case of need that which others have to read or be told of. Georg C. Lichtenberg caseskindneeds Popular presentation today is all too often that which puts the mob in a position to talk about something without understanding it. Georg C. Lichtenberg positionunderstandingtoday Most men of education are more superstitious than they admit - nay, than they think. Georg C. Lichtenberg educationmenthinking There are two ways of extending life: firstly by moving the two points "born" and "died" farther away from one another. The other method is to go more slowly and leave the two points wherever God wills they should be, and this method is for the philosophers. Georg C. Lichtenberg twowaymoving The motives that lead us to do anything might be arranged like the thirty-two winds and might be given names on the same pattern: for instance, "bread-bread-fame" or "fame-fame-bread." Georg C. Lichtenberg nameswindtwo He who knows himself properly can very soon learn to know all other men. It is all reflection. Georg C. Lichtenberg reflectionknowsmen Courage, garrulousness and the mob are on our side. What more do we want? Georg C. Lichtenberg sideswant The course of the seasons is a piece of clockwork, with a cuckoo to call when it is spring. Georg C. Lichtenberg cuckoospiecesspring
