Moses Mendelssohn Quotes
Moses Mendelssohn was a German-Jewish philosopher and the central figure of the Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment. Largely self-taught, he became a leading representative of the Berlin Enlightenment alongside Lessing, who modeled the title character of Nathan the Wise on him. The quotes below are attributed to Moses Mendelssohn, organized by topic.
Moses Mendelssohn on Freedom
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Attributed to Moses Mendelssohn:
“I demand only the freedom to think for myself.”
Moses Mendelssohn on God
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Attributed to Moses Mendelssohn:
“Religion of reason can never be in contradiction with itself.”
Moses Mendelssohn on Mind
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Attributed to Moses Mendelssohn:
“Reason is the soul's eye, faith its trust.”
Moses Mendelssohn on Politics
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Attributed to Moses Mendelssohn:
“The state and religion have entirely different goals.”
Moses Mendelssohn on Truth
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Attributed to Moses Mendelssohn:
“The conviction of the truth must spring up freely in the mind.”