There were honest people long before there were Christians and…

There were honest people long before there were Christians and there are, God be praised, still honest people where there are no Christians. It could therefore easily be possible that people are Christians because true Christianity corresponds to what they would have been even if Christianity did not exist.

Sourced, Aphorisms (1765-1799)

L 16

Other Georg Christoph Lichtenberg Quotes

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…
Even the gentlest, most modest and best of girls are always better, gentler and more modest if their mirrors have told them they are looking more beautiful than ever. - View Quote Details on Even the gentlest, most modest and best of girls are…
He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly does not yet know every kind of flattery. - View Quote Details on He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and…
Lichtenberg digs deeper than anyone… He speaks from the subterranean depths. Only he who himself digs deep hears him. - View Quote Details on Lichtenberg digs deeper than anyone… He speaks from the subterranean…
Delight at having understood a very abstract and obscure system leads most people to believe in the truth of what it demonstrates. - View Quote Details on Delight at having understood a very abstract and obscure system…
Those who never have time do least. - View Quote Details on Those who never have time do least.
Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc., at times before they’re worn out and times — and this is the worst of all — before we have new ones. - View Quote Details on Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow…
Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on ahead and reconnoitre the ground which the heavy brigade of the orthodox will eventually occupy. - View Quote Details on Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on…
People nowadays have such high hopes of America and the political conditions obtaining there that one might say the desires, at least the secret desires, of all enlightened Europeans are deflected to the west, like our magnetic needles. - View Quote Details on People nowadays have such high hopes of America and the…
Sickness is mankind’s greatest defect. - View Quote Details on Sickness is mankind’s greatest defect.