Georg C. Lichtenberg Quotes

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Georg C. Lichtenberg

Profession : Scientist

Birth : July 1, 1742

Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

We have no words for speaking of wisdom to the stupid. He who understands the wise is wise already.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

It is almost everywhere the case that soon after it is begotten the greater part of human wisdom is laid to rest in repositories.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

What is called an acute knowledge of human nature is mostly nothing but the observer's own weaknesses reflected back from others.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Perhaps in time the so-called Dark Ages will be thought of as including our own.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

The pleasures of the imagination are as it were only drawings and models which are played with by poor people who cannot afford the real thing.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Man loves company - even if it is only that of a small burning candle.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Sickness is mankind's greatest defect.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Even truth needs to be clad in new garments if it is to appeal to a new age.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

A book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it an apostle is hardly likely to look out.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Much can be inferred about a man from his mistress: in her one beholds his weaknesses and his dreams.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

If all else fails, the character of a man can be recognized by nothing so surely as by a jest which he takes badly.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

The most dangerous untruths are truths slightly distorted.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

A handful of soldiers is always better than a mouthful of arguments.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

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

Georg C. Lichtenberg

A person reveals his character by nothing so clearly as the joke he resents.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc., at times before they're worn out and times - and this is the worst of all - before we have new ones.

Georg C. Lichtenberg

The most perfect ape cannot draw an ape; only man can do that; but, likewise, only man regards the ability to do this as a sign of superiority.

Georg C. Lichtenberg