Georg Christoph Lichtenberg - Reason Quotes

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Good taste is either that which agrees with my taste or that which subjects itself to the rule of reason. From this we can see how useful it is to employ reason in seeking out the laws of taste.

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

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Man is a masterpiece of creation if for no other reason than that, all the weight of evidence for determinism notwithstanding, he believes he has free will.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
He was then in his fifty-fourth year, when even in the case of poets reason and passion begin to discuss a peace treaty and usually conclude it not very long afterwards.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
People often become scholars for the same reason they become soldiers: simply because they are unfit for any other station. Their right hand has to earn them a livelihood; one might say they lie down like bears in winter and seek sustenance from their paws.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Reason now gazes above the realm of the dark but warm feelings as the Alpine peaks do above the clouds. They behold the sun more clearly and distinctly, but they are cold and unfruitful.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Man is to be found in reason, God in the passions.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
First there is a time when we believe everything, then for a little while we believe with discrimination, then we believe nothing whatever, and then we believe everything again - and, moreover, give reasons why we believe.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
People don't like to choose lot #1 in a lottery. "Choose it," Reason cries loudly. "It has as good a chance of winning the 12,000 thalers as any other." "In Heaven's name don't choose it," a je ne sais quoi whispers. "There's no example of such little numbers being listed before great winnings." And actually no one takes it.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg