Georg C. Lichtenberg

The Greeks possessed a knowledge of human nature we seem hardly able to attain to without passing through the strengthening hibernation of a new barbarism. ”

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

There are very many people who read simply to prevent themselves from thinking. ”

Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinion at all. ”

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

Delight at having understood a very abstract and obscure system leads most people to believe in the truth of what it demonstrates. ”

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

To receive applause for works which do not demand all our powers hinders our advance towards a perfecting of our spirit. It usually means that thereafter we stand still. ”

It is a question whether, when we break a murderer on the wheel, we do not fall into the error a child makes when it hits the chair it has bumped into. ”

With most people disbelief in a thing is founded on a blind belief in some other thing. ”