Wilhelm von Humboldt 1767 – 1835
Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767 – 1835) was a German philosopher of the Modern era, associated with German Idealism and Enlightenment.
Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Karl Ferdinand von Humboldt was a Prussian philosopher, linguist, and statesman, founder of the modern research university and of the modern philosophy of language. As Minister of Education he reformed the Prussian school system and founded the University of Berlin, which became the model for modern research universities worldwide. His Limits of State Action, written in 1791 but published only after his death, defended a strictly limited state in the name of individual self-cultivation, and his late linguistic writings argued that each language embodies a distinct worldview.
Key facts
- Nationality
- German
- Era
- Modern
- Movements
- German Idealism, Enlightenment
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Wilhelm von Humboldt:
“Language is the formative organ of thought.”
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Attributed to Wilhelm von Humboldt:
“The true end of man is the highest and most harmonious development of his powers to a complete and consistent whole.”
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Attributed to Wilhelm von Humboldt:
“The state should restrict itself to the security of person and property.”
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Attributed to Wilhelm von Humboldt:
“The diversity of languages corresponds to a diversity of worldviews.”
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Attributed to Wilhelm von Humboldt:
“Without freedom no genuine cultivation is possible.”
Frequently asked about Wilhelm von Humboldt
- When did Wilhelm von Humboldt live?
- Wilhelm von Humboldt was born in 1767 and died in 1835.
- Where was Wilhelm von Humboldt from?
- Wilhelm von Humboldt was a German philosopher of the Modern era.
- What philosophical movements is Wilhelm von Humboldt associated with?
- Wilhelm von Humboldt was associated with German Idealism and Enlightenment.
- What was Wilhelm von Humboldt known for?
- Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Karl Ferdinand von Humboldt was a Prussian philosopher, linguist, and statesman, founder of the modern research university and of the modern philosophy of language.
- How many quotes are attributed to Wilhelm von Humboldt?
- There are 9 attributed quotations from Wilhelm von Humboldt in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.
Quotes that are not actually from Wilhelm von Humboldt
These lines are widely circulated as Wilhelm von Humboldt, but they do not appear in Wilhelm von Humboldt's works. Each entry below identifies the actual source.
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“Erst erfreuen, dann belehren.”
This quote is commonly attributed to philosophers but its actual source is uncertain or unverified in the standard reference works. Wikiquote's note on this attribution: First delight, then instruct. Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Gustav Friedrich Waagen in "On the Purpose of the Berlin Gallery" [ Über die Aufgabe der Berliner Galerie ] (1828); occasionally attributed to von Humboldt, who had quoted Schinkel and Waagen in a report.
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“First delight, then instruct.”
Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Gustav Friedrich Waagen in "On the Purpose of the Berlin Gallery" [ Über die Aufgabe der Berliner Galerie ] (1828); occasionally attributed to von Humboldt, who had quoted Schinkel and Waagen in a report.