Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Quotes

The most useful piece of learning for the uses of life is to unlearn what is untrue.

We must never forget that higher knowledge has to do with revering truth and insight and not with revering people.

We can judge our progress by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers, our willingness to embrace what is true rather than what feels good.

If any man can convince me and bring home to me that I do not think or act aright, gladly will I change; for I search after truth, by which man never yet was harmed. But he is harmed who abideth on still in his deception and ignorance.

Teach thy tongue to say 'I do not know', and thou shalt progress.

Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It's about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life.

Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him.

The truth won't set us free - until we develop the skills and the habit and the talent and the moral courage to use it.

I am a humble but very earnest seeker after truth.

Truth is always served by great minds, even if they fight it.

I am not 'in pursuit of truth.' It is not my 'quarry.' I am of my human nature a thinker, and conscious of need, responsibility of thinking-speaking with truth. I do not go about hunting 'truths.'

To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.

Doubt is the origin of wisdom.

The compelling drive to get at the truth is what improves us all as psychologists and is part and parcel of intellectual integrity. But I do urge that we not let the drive for honesty put blinders on us and cut off our range of vision so that we miss the very thing we set out the understand - namely, the living human being.

I always think there's something you can learn.

If someone can prove me wrong and show me my mistake in any thought or action, I shall gladly change. I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone: the harm is to persist in one's own self-deception and ignorance.

A life of total dedication to the truth also means a life of willingness to be personally challenged.

First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of truth.

I study more of truth and enlightening. I had to go the next level to talk about life.

Upon the subjects of which I have treated, I have spoken as I have thought. I may be wrong in regard to any or all of them; but, holding it a sound maxim that it is better only sometimes to be right than at all times to be wrong, so soon as I discover my opinions to be erroneous, I shall be ready to renounce them.

I was brought up to believe that the only thing worth doing was to add to the sum of accurate information in the world.

I am aware that a philosopher's ideas are not subject to the judgment of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavour to seek the truth in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God.

Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.

Clarity and consistency are not enough: the quest for truth requires humility and effort.

Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.