1001Philosophers

Johann Georg Hamann Quotes

Johann Georg Hamann was a German philosopher of language and religion, often called the Magus of the North. A Konigsberg contemporary and lifelong interlocutor of Kant, he combined a cryptic, allusive prose with a vehement Lutheran-Pietist critique of Enlightenment rationalism. The quotes below are attributed to Johann Georg Hamann, organized by topic.

Johann Georg Hamann on God

  • Attributed to Johann Georg Hamann:

    “Christianity is folly to the wise but wisdom to the simple.”

Johann Georg Hamann on Love

  • Attributed to Johann Georg Hamann:

    “Poetry is the mother tongue of the human race.”

Johann Georg Hamann on Mind

  • Attributed to Johann Georg Hamann:

    “Reason is impossible without faith in language.”

Johann Georg Hamann on Truth

  • Attributed to Johann Georg Hamann:

    “Language is the mother of reason and revelation, their A and Omega.”

  • Attributed to Johann Georg Hamann:

    “All philosophy that ignores the senses is empty word-magic.”

Read all Johann Georg Hamann quotes on Truth