339 Quotes by Georg C. Lichtenberg

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.

Many are less fortunate than you' may not be a roof to live under, but it will serve to retire beneath in the event of a shower.

The noble simplicity in the works of nature only too often originates in the noble shortsightedness of him who observes it.

With prophecies the commentator is often a more important man than the prophet.

Just as there are polysyllabic words that say very little, so there are also monosyllabic words of infinite meaning.

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.

I am convinced we do not only love ourselves in others but hate ourselves in others too.

To make a vow is a greater sin than to break one.

I have often noticed that when people come to understand a mathematical proposition in some other way than that of the ordinary demonstration, they promptly say, "Oh, I see. That's how it must be." This is a sign that they explain it to themselves from within their own system.