Possession, it is true, crowns exertion with rest; but it is only in the illusions of fancy that it has power to charm us. Wilhelm von Humboldt More Quotes by Wilhelm von Humboldt More Quotes From Wilhelm von Humboldt To judge a man means nothing more than to ask: What content does he give to the form of humanity? What concept should we have of humanity if he were its only representative? Wilhelm von Humboldt giving men mean Work is as much a necessity to man as eating and sleeping. Even those who do nothing that can be called work still imagine they are doing something. The world has not a man who is an idler in his own eyes. Wilhelm von Humboldt eye sleep inspirational The most beautiful, perhaps the only true philosophical song existing in any known tongue ....perhaps the deepest and loftiest thing the world has to show. Wilhelm von Humboldt philosophical song beautiful The finest fruit earth holds up to its Maker is a finished man. Wilhelm von Humboldt fruit earth men We cannot assume the injustice of any actions which only create offense, and especially as regards religion and morals. He who utters or does anything to wound the conscience and moral sense of others, may indeed act immorally; but, so long as he is not guilty of being importunate, he violates no right. Wilhelm von Humboldt doe may long A man must seek his happiness and inward peace from objects which cannot be taken away from him. Wilhelm von Humboldt taken happiness men Among men who are really free, every form of industry becomes more rapidly improved - all the arts flourish more gracefully - all the sciences extend their range. Wilhelm von Humboldt range men art Life, in all ranks and situations, is an outward occupation, an actual and active work. Wilhelm von Humboldt occupation inspirational life The State is not in itself an end, but is only a means towards human development. Wilhelm von Humboldt development ends mean All political arrangements, in that they have to bring a variety of widely-discordant interests into unity and harmony, necessarily occasion manifold collisions. From these collisions spring misproportions between men's desires and their powers; and from these, transgressions. The more active the State is, the greater is the number of these. Wilhelm von Humboldt spring numbers men Fancy brings us as many vain hopes as idle fears. Wilhelm von Humboldt idle vain fancy The state should avoid all solicitude for the positive welfare of its citizens, and not proceed a step further than is necessary for their mutual security and their protection against foreign enemies. It should impose restrictions on freedom for no other purpose. Wilhelm von Humboldt liberty steps enemy In the moral world there is nothing impossible if we can bring a thorough will to it. Man can do everything with himself, but he must not attempt to do too much with others. Wilhelm von Humboldt too-much men world All translating seems to me to be simply an attempt to accomplish an impossible task. Wilhelm von Humboldt accomplish tasks impossible The price of apparent happiness and enjoyment is the neglect of the spontaneous active energies of the acting members. Wilhelm von Humboldt spontaneous acting energy All situations in which the interrelationships between extremes are involved are the most interesting and instructive. Wilhelm von Humboldt extremes situation interesting If it were possible to make an accurate calculation of the evils which police regulations occasion, and of those which they prevent, the number of the former would, in all cases, exceed that of the latter. Wilhelm von Humboldt police evil numbers It is an absolutely vain endeavor to attempt to reconstruct or even comprehend the nature of a human being by simply knowing the forces which have acted upon him. However deeply we should like to penetrate, however close we seem to be drawing to truth, one unknown quantity eludes us: man's primordial energy, his original self, that personality which was given him with the gift of life itself. On it rests man's true freedom; it alone determines his real character. Wilhelm von Humboldt real character men If it were not somewhat fanciful to suppose that every human excellence is presented, as it were, in one kind of being, we might believe that the whole treasure of morality and order is enshrined in the female character. Wilhelm von Humboldt women character believe The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of God, as He has bestowed upon man neither the wisdom nor the power to enable him to check it. The great lesson in these things is, that man must strengthen himself doubly at such times to fulfill his duty and to do what is right, and must seek his happiness and inward peace from objects which cannot be taken away from him. Wilhelm von Humboldt taken men fall
