Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Quotes
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German Enlightenment philosopher, dramatist, and critic and one of the most important figures in the development of modern German letters. As dramaturge at the Hamburg National Theatre he reshaped German drama, and his close friendship with Moses Mendelssohn produced an enduring partnership of Jewish and Christian Enlightenment thought. The quotes below are attributed to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, organized by topic.
Browse Gotthold Ephraim Lessing by topic
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Death
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“Es ist unendlich schwer, zu wissen, wenn und wo man bleiben soll, und Tausenden für einen ist das Ziel ihres Nachdenkens die Stelle, wo sie des Nachdenkens müde geworden.”
It is infinitely difficult to know when and where one should stop, and for all but one in thousands the goal of their thinking is the point at which they have become tired of thinking. Letter to Moses Mendelssohn , January 9, 1771 -
“Eben die Bahn, aus welcher das Geschlecht zu seiner Vollkommenheit gelangt, muß jeder einzelne Mensch (der früher, der später) erst durchlaufen haben.”
Precisely the way on which the species reaches its perfection, every individual human being (one earlier, one later) must have traversed, too. The Education of Mankind , § 93
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on God
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Attributed to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing:
“No one of us is required to be the judge of any other, in matters of religion.”
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“Man, whence is he? Too bad to be the work of a god, too good for the work of chance.”
As quoted in Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern English and Foreign Sources (1899) by James Wood, p. 61
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Happiness
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“To look forward to pleasure is also a pleasure. Minna von Barnhelm (1763), , Act IV, scene VI”
Und ein Vergnügen erwarten, ist auch ein Vergnügen.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Justice
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“I, who ne'er Went for myself a begging, go a borrowing, And that for others. Borrowing's much the same As begging; just as lending upon usury Is much the same as thieving.”
Nathan the Wise (1779), Act II, scene II
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Knowledge
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Attributed to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing:
“Education is to man what mould is to bricks; it forms the shape of the soul.”
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Attributed to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing:
“Read the most ancient books with the same care that you would the most modern.”
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“Was ist ein Held ohne Menschenliebe?”
What is a hero without love for mankind? Philotas (1759), Act 1, Scene 7 -
“Denn zu einem großen Manne gehört beides: Kleinigkeiten als Kleinigkeiten, und wichtige Dinge als wichtige Dinge zu behandeln.”
It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important. Hamburgische Dramaturgie (1767 - 1769), Vierunddreißigstes Stück Den 25. August 1767 -
“It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important. Hamburgische Dramaturgie (1767 - 1769), Vierunddreißigstes Stück Den 25. August 1767”
Denn zu einem großen Manne gehört beides: Kleinigkeiten als Kleinigkeiten, und wichtige Dinge als wichtige Dinge zu behandeln. -
“Perlen bedeuten Tränen.”
Pearls mean tears. Emilia Galotti (1772), Act II, scene VIII -
“Pearls mean tears. Emilia Galotti (1772), Act II, scene VIII”
Perlen bedeuten Tränen. -
“Besserer Rat kommt über Nacht.”
Better counsel comes overnight. Emilia Galotti (1772), Act IV, scene III -
“Better counsel comes overnight. Emilia Galotti (1772), Act IV, scene III”
Besserer Rat kommt über Nacht. -
“Und ein Vergnügen erwarten, ist auch ein Vergnügen.”
To look forward to pleasure is also a pleasure. Minna von Barnhelm (1763), , Act IV, scene VI -
“It is infinitely difficult to know when and where one should stop, and for all but one in thousands the goal of their thinking is the point at which they have become tired of thinking.”
Letter to Moses Mendelssohn , January 9, 1771 -
“Nathan the Wise (1779), Act II, scene II”
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Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Love
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Attributed to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing:
“Let each of us strive to display impartial love.”
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“What is a hero without love for mankind? Philotas (1759), Act 1, Scene 7”
Was ist ein Held ohne Menschenliebe? -
“Trust no friend without faults, and love a maiden, but no angel.”
As quoted in Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern English and Foreign Sources (1899) by James Wood, p. 499 -
“What is a hero without love for mankind?”
Philotas (1759), Act 1, Scene 7
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Mind
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“The worst of superstitions is to think One's own most bearable.”
Nathan the Wise (1779), Act IV, scene II Variant translation: The worst superstition is to consider our own tolerable.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Truth
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Attributed to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing:
“If God held all truth in his right hand and in his left only the steady and diligent striving for truth, I would humbly choose the left hand.”