Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Quotes

Es ist unendlich schwer, zu wissen, wenn und wo man bleiben soll, und Tausenden für einen ist das Ziel ihres Nachdenkens die Stelle, wo sie des Nachdenkens müde geworden.

Der Mensch, wo ist er her? Zu schlecht für einen Gott, zu gut fürs Ungefähr.

The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get to the Truth. It is not possession of the Truth, but rather the pursuit of Truth by which he extends his powers and in which his ever-growing perfectibility is to be found. Possession makes one passive, indolent, and proud. If God were to hold all Truth concealed in his right hand, and in his left only the steady and diligent drive for Truth, albeit with the proviso that I would always and forever err in the process, and offer me the choice, I would with all humility take the left hand, and say: Father, I will take this one—the pure Truth is for You alone.

I, who ne'er Went for myself a begging, go a borrowing, And that for others. Borrowing's much the same As begging; just as lending upon usury Is much the same as thieving.

Denn zu einem großen Manne gehört beides: Kleinigkeiten als Kleinigkeiten, und wichtige Dinge als wichtige Dinge zu behandeln.

It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important.

Besserer Rat kommt über Nacht.

Precisely the way on which the species reaches its perfection, every individual human being (one earlier, one later) must have traversed, too.

Was ist ein Held ohne Menschenliebe?

Better counsel comes overnight.

Trust no friend without faults, and love a maiden, but no angel.

Und ein Vergnügen erwarten, ist auch ein Vergnügen.