Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

A schoolteacher or professor cannot educate individuals, he educates only species.

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

First we have to believe, and then we believe.

There is no greater impediment to progress in the sciences than the desire to see it take place too quickly.

Where the frontier of science once was is now the centre.

If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.

Once we know our weaknesses they cease to do us any harm.

We are obliged to regard many of our original minds as crazy — at least until we have become as clever as they are.

Nothing can contribute more to peace of soul than the lack of any opinion whatever.

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

If you are going to build something in the air it is always better to build castles than houses of cards.

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

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.

The most successful tempters and thus the most dangerous are the deluded deluders.

It is almost impossible to bear the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing somebody’s beard.

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

The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things.

We accumulate our opinions at an age when our understanding is at its weakest.

The most dangerous untruths are truths moderately distorted.

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.