The sure conviction that we could if we wanted to is the reason so many good minds are idle.

Quote by Georg C Lichtenberg

Topics: Georg C Lichtenberg Quotes

Here take back the stuff that I am, nature, knead it back into the dough...

Here take back the stuff that I am, nature, knead it back into the dough...

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

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

Erudition can produce foliage without bearing fruit.

Erudition can produce foliage without bearing fruit.

It is in the gift for employing all the vicissitudes of life to one's own...

It is in the gift for employing all the vicissitudes of life to one's own...

Be wary of passing the judgment: obscure. To find something obscure poses no difficult, elephants...

Be wary of passing the judgment: obscure. To find something obscure poses no difficult, elephants...

Men still have to be governed by deception.

Men still have to be governed by deception.

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

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

The most dangerous untruths are truths slightly distorted.

The most dangerous untruths are truths slightly distorted.

Eveyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original...

Eveyone is a genius at least once a year. A real genius has his original...

Prejudices are so to speak the mechanical instincts of men: through their prejudices they do...

Prejudices are so to speak the mechanical instincts of men: through their prejudices they do...

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

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

If the little bit you have is nothing special in itself, at least find a...

If the little bit you have is nothing special in itself, at least find a...

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

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

He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly...

He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly...

The fly that doesn't want to be swatted is most secure when it lights on...

The fly that doesn't want to be swatted is most secure when it lights on...

To be content with life or to live merrily, rather all that is required is...

To be content with life or to live merrily, rather all that is required is...

I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say...

I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say...

We cannot remember too often that when we observe nature, and especially the ordering of...

We cannot remember too often that when we observe nature, and especially the ordering of...

Nothing makes one old so quickly as the ever-present thought that one is growing older.

Nothing makes one old so quickly as the ever-present thought that one is growing older.

Doubt must be no more than vigilance, otherwise it can become dangerous.

Doubt must be no more than vigilance, otherwise it can become dangerous.