Man is a masterpiece of creation if for no other…

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.

Sourced, Aphorisms (1765-1799)

J 249

Other Georg Christoph Lichtenberg Quotes

Not only did he not believe in ghosts, he wasn’t even afraid of them. - View Quote Details on Not only did he not believe in ghosts, he wasn’t…
German Wikipedia - View Quote Details on German Wikipedia
Once the good man was dead, one wore his hat and another his sword as he had worn them, a third had himself barbered as he had, a fourth walked as he did, but the honest man that he was — nobody any longer wanted to be that. - View Quote Details on Once the good man was dead, one wore his hat…
Nowadays three witty turns of phrase and a lie make a writer. - View Quote Details on Nowadays three witty turns of phrase and a lie make…
There is no more important rule of conduct in the world than this: attach yourself as much as you can to people who are abler than you and yet not so very different that you cannot understand them. - View Quote Details on There is no more important rule of conduct in the…
I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better. - View Quote Details on I cannot say whether things will get better if we…
It is hardly to be believed how spiritual reflections when mixed with a little physics can hold people’s attention and give them a livelier idea of God than do the often ill-applied examples of his wrath. - View Quote Details on It is hardly to be believed how spiritual reflections when…
Man is always partial and is quite right to be. Even impartiality is partial. - View Quote Details on Man is always partial and is quite right to be…
The journalists have constructed for themselves a little wooden chapel, which they also call the Temple of Fame, in which they put up and take down portraits all day long and make such a hammering you can’t hear yourself speak. - View Quote Details on The journalists have constructed for themselves a little wooden chapel,…
Concerning the body, there are at least as many, if not more, imaginary sick as really sick people. Concerning the mind, there are as many, if not more, imaginary sane people as really sane ones. - View Quote Details on Concerning the body, there are at least as many, if…