Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach Quote

I have often been told, on the occasion of the publication of some important scientific work, that 'whatever there is true in it is not new, and what is new is not true.' This means in plain language: 'we understand what we know, but that which we ought to know, we do not understand.'


Translated by Otto Wenckstern, Goethe's Opinions on the World, Mankind, Literature, Science, and Art, (p. 34)


I have often been told, on the occasion of the publication of some important scientific work, that 'whatever there is true in it is not new, and what ...

I have often been told, on the occasion of the publication of some important scientific work, that 'whatever there is true in it is not new, and what ...

I have often been told, on the occasion of the publication of some important scientific work, that 'whatever there is true in it is not new, and what ...

I have often been told, on the occasion of the publication of some important scientific work, that 'whatever there is true in it is not new, and what ...