Profound meditation in solitude and silence frequently exalts the mind above its natural tone, fires the imagination, produces the most refined and sublime conceptions. The soul then tastes the purest and most refined delight, and almost loses the idea of existence in the intellectual pleasure it receives. The mind on every motion darts through space into eternity; and raised, in its free enjoyment of its powers by its own enthusiasm, strengthens itself in the habitude of contemplating the noblest subjects, and of adopting the most heroic pursuits.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Meditation
The change we personally experience from time to time, we obstinately deny to our principles.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Principles
Very few public men but look upon the public as their debtors and their prey; so much for their pride and honesty.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Public
Never suffer the prejudice of the eye to determine the heart.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Prejudice, Proverbs
Conceit and confidence are both of them cheats.—The first always imposes on itself; the second frequently deceives others.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Conceit
Ignorance, poverty, and vanity make many soldiers.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
By fools knaves fatten; every knave finds a gull.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Many have been ruined by their fortunes, and many have escaped ruin by the want of fortune. To obtain it the great have become little, and the little great.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Forgiveness, Fortune
Many are discontented with the name of idler, who are nevertheless content to do worse than nothing.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Industry
Comedians are not usually actors, but imitations of actors.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Humor
In fame’s temple there is always to be found a niche for rich dunces, importunate scoundrels, or successful butchers of the human race.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Fame
There are few tables where convivial talents will not pass in payment, especially where the host wants brains, or the guest has money.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Be not so bigoted to any custom as to worship it at the expense of truth.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Custom, Truth
It would be a considerable consolation to the poor and discontented, could they but see the means whereby the wealth they covet has been acquired, or the misery that it entails.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Poverty
Egotism is more like an offence than a crime, though ’tis allowable to speak of yourself provided nothing is advanced in your own favor; but I cannot help suspecting that those who abuse themselves are, in reality, angling for approbation.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Egotism
If you ask me which is the real hereditary sin of human nature, do you imagine I shall answer pride, or luxury, or ambition, or egotism? No; I shall say indolence. Who conquers indolence will conquer all the rest. Indeed all good principles must stagnate without mental activity.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Laziness
Silence is the ornament and safeguard of the ignorant.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Silence
Troops of furies march in the drunkard’s triumph.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Drunkenness
Open your mouth and purse cautiously; and your stock of wealth and reputation shall, at least in repute, be great.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Caution
They that do nothing are in the readiest way to do that which is worse than nothing.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Idleness
Never lose sight of this important truth, that no one can be truly great until he has gained a knowledge of himself, a knowledge which can only be acquired by occasional retirement.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
The weak may be joked out of anything but their weakness.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Weakness
Novels do not force their readers to sin, but only instruct them how to sin.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Silence is the ornament and safeguard of the ignorant. Silence is the safest response for all the contradiction that arises from impertinence, vulgarity, or envy.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Silence
Superfluity creates necessity, and necessity superfluity. Take care to be an economist in prosperity: there is no fear of your being one in adversity.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Economy, Prosperity
A good name will wear out; a bad one may be turned; a nickname lasts forever.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
News-hunters have great leisure, with little thought; much petty ambition to be thought intelligent, without any other pretension than being able to communicate what they have just learned.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Gossip
Beauty is often worse than wine; intoxicating both the holder and beholder.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Beauty, Wine
The man whom neither riches nor luxury nor grandeur can render happy may, with a book in his hand, forget all his troubles under the friendly shade of every tree, and may experience pleasures as infinite as they are varied, as pure as they are lasting, as lively as they are unfading, and as compatible with every public duty as they are contributory to private happiness.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Topics: Reading
All our distinctions are accidental.—Beauty and deformity, though personal qualities, are neither entitled to praise or censure; yet it so happens that they color our opinion of those qualities to which mankind have attached importance.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- John Muir American Naturalist
- Charles Darwin British Naturalist
- David Attenborough English Naturalist, Broadcaster
- Diane Ackerman American Poet, Naturalist
- E. O. Wilson American Sociobiologist
- Joseph Wood Krutch American Writer
- Henry David Thoreau American Philosopher
- Deepak Chopra Indian-born American Physician
- Edward de Bono British Psychologist, Writer
- Avicenna Persian Physician, Philosopher, Polymath
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