We moderns do not believe in demigods, but our smallest hero we expect to feel and act as a demigod. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing More Quotes by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing More Quotes From Gotthold Ephraim Lessing For me the greatest beauty always lies in the greatest clarity. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing claritybeautylying The true value of man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get to the Truth. It is not possession of Truth by which he extends his powers and in which his ever-growing perfectability is to be found. Possession makes one passive, indolent and proud. If God were to hold all Truth concealed in his right hand, and in his left only the steady and diligent drive for Truth, albeit with the proviso that I would always and forever err in the process, and to offer me the choice, I would with all humility take the left hand. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing humilityrealmen To look forward to pleasure is also a pleasure. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing pleasurelooks Let us be lazy in everything, except in loving and drinking, except in being lazy. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing lazydrunkdrinking Nature meant woman to be her masterpiece. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing masterpiecewomen He who doesn't lose his wits over certain things has no wits to lose. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing wittonguecertain Pleasures, riches, honor and joy are sure to have care, disgrace, adversity and affliction in their train. There is no pleasure without pain, no joy without sorrow. O the folly of expecting lasting felicity in a vale of tears, or a paradise in a ruined world. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing adversityfailurepain The most agreeable of all companions is a simple, frank man, without any high pretensions to an oppressive greatness; one who loves life, and understands the use of it; obliging alike at all hours; above all, of a golden temper and steadfast as an anchor. For such an one we gladly exchange the greatest genius, the most brilliant wit, the profoundest thinker. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing love-lifegreatnesssimple Yesterday I lived, today I suffer, tomorrow I die; but I still think fondly, today and tomorrow, of yesterday. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing sufferingyesterdaythinking Did the Almighty, holding in his right hand truth, and in his left hand search after truth, deign to proffer me the one I might prefer, in all humility, but without hesitation, I should request search after truth. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing humilitytruthhands The search for truth is more precious than its possession. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing precious-possessionscuriositytruth A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most perfect prayer. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing gratitudethanksgivingprayer The true vagrant is the only king above all comparison. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing vagrantscomparisonkings Nothing under the sun is ever accidental. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing reasonsun A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes Gotthold Ephraim Lessing eyewisdommen The more we see the more we must be able to imagine, and the more we imagine, the more we must think we see. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing fantasyablethinking The most deadly fruit is borne by the hatred which one grafts on an extinguished friendship Gotthold Ephraim Lessing fruithatredfriendship If some things don't make you lose your sense of reason, then you have none to lose. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing losesifsreason My God, grant that my bounty may be a clear and transparent river, flowing from pure charity, and uncontaminated by self-love, ambition, or interest. Thanks are due not to me, but Thee, from whom all I possess is derived. And what are the paltry gifts for which my neighbor forgets to thank me, compared with the immense blessings for which I have so often forgotten to be grateful to Thee! Gotthold Ephraim Lessing gratefulambitionblessing How can such deep-imprinted images sleep in us at times, till a word, a sound, awake them? Gotthold Ephraim Lessing awakesoundsleep
