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Quote by Wilhelm von Humboldt

“Fancy brings us as many vain hopes as idle fears.”

Quote by Wilhelm von Humboldt

Author

Wilhelm von Humboldt

German philosopher, educator, and linguist, known as the 'Father of Educational Reform'. Wilhelm von Humboldt was born on June 22, 1767, and died on April 8, 1835. He had profound insights into education, language, and culture, which had a lasting impact on the world. more

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“The mere reality of life would be inconceivably poor without the charm of fancy, which brings in its bosom, no doubt, as many vain fears as idle hopes, but lends much oftener to the illusions it calls up a gay flattering hue than one which inspires terror.”

Reality Would Be Poor Doubt Inspire Gay Illusion Mere Terror Vain Reality Of Life Fancy Charm No Doubt Idle Bosoms Flattering Hue

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“To behold, is not necessary to observe, and the power of comparing and combining is only to be obtained by education. It is much to be regretted that habits of exact observation are not cultivated in our schools; to this deficiency may be traced much of the fallacious reasoning, the false philosophy which prevails.”

May Philosophy School Habit Observation Compare Reasoning Deficiency Combining

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“It is a characteristic of old age to find the progress of time accelerated. The less one accomplishes in a given time, the shorter does the retrospect appear.”

Doe Age Given Progress Accomplish Old Age Characteristics Retrospect

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“Death is but a word to us. One's own experience alone can teach us the real meaning of the word. The sight of the dying does little. What one sees of them is merely what precedes death: dull unconsciousness is all we see. Whether this be so,--how and when the spirit wakes to life again,--this is what all wish to know, and what never can be known until it is experienced.”

Knows Littles Doe Real Death Spirit Wish Known Teach Dying Sight Dull Unconsciousness

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“When we are not too anxious about happiness and unhappiness, but devote ourselves to the strict and unsparing performance of duty, then happiness comes of itself - nay, even springs from the midst of a life of troubles and anxieties and privations.”

Happiness Trouble Duty Anxiety Spring Performances Midst Unhappiness Anxious Strict

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“The finest fruit earth holds up to its Maker is a finished man.”

Men Earth Fruit Finished Makers Finest

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“Prayer is intended to increase the devotion of the individual, but if the individual himself prays he requires no formula; he pours himself forth much more naturally in self-chosen and connected thoughts before God, and scarcely requires words at all. Real inward devotion knows no prayer but that arising from the depths of its own feelings.”

Ifs Knows Real Self Feelings Individual Prayer Praying Increase Depth Connected Devotion Chosen Formulas Inward

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“However benevolent may be the intentions of Providence, they do not always advance the happiness of the individual. Providence has always higher ends in view, and works in a pre-eminent degree on the inner feelings and disposition.”

May Ends Feelings Individual Views Higher Degrees Intention Providence Disposition Benevolent Inner Feelings

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt

“There are good people who are dealt a bad hand by fate, and bad people who live long, comfortable, privileged lives. A small twist of fate can save or end a life; random chance is a permanent, powerful player in each of our lives, and in human history as well.”

“It is resignation and contentment that are best calculated to lead us safely through life. Whoever has not sufficient power to endure privations, and even suffering, can never feel that he is armor proof against painful emotions,--nay, he must attribute to himself, or at least to the morbid sensitiveness of his nature, every disagreeable feeling he may suffer.”

Feels May Feelings Suffering Emotion Endure Painful Proof Sufficient Contentment Attributes Armor Resignation Disagreeable Morbid

Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt