Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gotthold Ephraim Lessingwas a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic, and one of the most outstanding representatives of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature. He is widely considered by theatre historians to be the first dramaturg in his role at Abel Seyler's Hamburg National Theatre...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionCritic
Date of Birth22 January 1729
CountryGermany
death misery sin
It is not I who die, when I die, but my sin and misery.
truth humility hands
Did the Almighty, holding in his right hand truth, and in his left hand search after truth, deign to proffer me the one I might prefer, in all humility, but without hesitation, I should request search after truth.
pleasure cheerfulness creator
What can the Creator see with greater pleasure than a happy creature?
prayer command
The gift of prayer is not always at our command.
begging-you lending borrowing
Borrowing is not much better than begging.
kings real beggar
The real beggar is indeed the true and only king.
honor chastity shows
A blush is the sign which Nature hangs out to show where chastity and honor dwell.
love-life simple greatness
The most agreeable of all companions is a simple, frank man, without any high pretensions to an oppressive greatness; one who loves life, and understands the use of it; obliging alike at all hours; above all, of a golden temper and steadfast as an anchor. For such an one we gladly exchange the greatest genius, the most brilliant wit, the profoundest thinker.
destiny heaven way
Resist as much as thou wilt; heaven's ways are heaven's ways.
women masterpiece
Nature meant woman to be her masterpiece.
hero believe demigods
We moderns do not believe in demigods, but our smallest hero we expect to feel and act as a demigod.
children fairy-tale fairy
It is not children only that one feeds with fairy tales.
truth-is thee absolute-truth
Absolute truth belongs to Thee alone.
dream action goodness
It's easier to swoon in pious dreams Than do good actions.