God created man in His own image, says the Bible; philosophers reverse the process: they create God in theirs.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

To be content with life or to live merrily, rather all that is required is that we bestow on all things only a fleeting, superficial glance; the more thoughtful we become the more earnest we grow.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

The most dangerous untruths are truths slightly distorted.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Erudition can produce foliage without bearing fruit.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Perhaps in time the so-called Dark Ages will be thought of as including our own.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Nowadays three witty turns of phrase and a lie make a writer.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

To err is human also in so far as animals seldom or never err, or at least only the cleverest of them do so.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

A book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it an apostle is hardly likely to look out.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

The pleasures of the imagination are as it were only drawings and models which are played with by poor people who cannot afford the real thing.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Doubt must be no more than vigilance, otherwise it can become dangerous.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

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.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Much can be inferred about a man from his mistress: in her one beholds his weaknesses and his dreams.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

It is almost everywhere the case that soon after it is begotten the greater part of human wisdom is laid to rest in repositories.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinion at all.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Man loves company - even if it is only that of a small burning candle.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

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.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

If you are going to build something in the air it is always better to build castles than houses of cards.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

Sickness is mankind's greatest defect.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg

We cannot remember too often that when we observe nature, and especially the ordering of nature, it is always ourselves alone we are observing.

- Georg C. Lichtenberg