Wilhelm von Humboldt quotes - page 2

Wilhelm von Humboldt was a German philosopher, linguist, and statesman, renowned for his influence on education and language theory. His work laid the foundation for modern linguistics and significantly shaped the development of the university model. He stressed the importance of individual freedom in education and contributed greatly to cultural and intellectual life. Here are 43 of his quotes:

First delight, then instruct.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

Owing to the vigorous and elastic strength of man's original power, necessity does not often require anything save the removal of oppressive bonds.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

The grand, leading principle, towards which every argument hitherto unfolded in these pages directly converges, is the absolute and essential importance of human development in its richest diversity.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

Man is naturally more disposed to beneficent than selfish actions.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

It is only through extremes that men can arrive at the middle path of wisdom and virtue.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

If we would indicate an idea which, throughout the whole course of history, has ever more and more widely extended its empire, or which, more than any other, testifies to the much-contested and still more decidedly misunderstood perfectibility of the whole human race, it is that of establishing our common humanity - of striving to remove the barriers which prejudice and limited views of every kind have erected among men, and to treat all mankind, without reference to religion, nation, or color, as one fraternity, one great community, fitted for the attainment of one object, the unrestrained development of the physical powers.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

There are undeniably certain kinds of knowledge that must be of a general nature and, more importantly, a certain cultivation of the mind and character that nobody can afford to be without.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

The incapacity for freedom can only arise from a want of moral and intellectual power; to elevate this power is the only way to counteract this want; but to do this presupposes the exercise of that power, and this exercise presupposes the freedom which awakens spontaneous activity.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

To inquire and to create;-these are the grand centres around which all human pursuits revolve.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

Coercion may prevent many transgressions; but it robs even actions which are legal of a part of their beauty. Freedom may lead to many transgressions, but it lends even to vices a less ignoble form.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

It is usually more important how a man meets his fate than what it is.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

War seems to be one of the most salutary phenomena for the culture of human nature; and it is not without regret that I see it disappearing more and more from the scene.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

To inquire and to create;-these are the grand centres around which all human pursuits revolve, or at least to these objects do they all more or less directly refer.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

Man is naturally more disposed to beneficent than selfish actions. This we learn even from the history of savages. The domestic virtues have something in them so inviting and genial, and the public virtues of the citizen something so grand and inspiring, that even he who is barely uncorrupted, is seldom able to resist their charm.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

The grand, leading principle, towards which every argument hitherto unfolded in these pages directly converges, is the absolute and essential importance of human development in its richest diversity; but national education, since at least it presupposes the selection and appointment of some one instructor, must always promote a definite form of development, however careful to avoid such an error. And hence it is attended with all those disadvantages which we before observed to flow from such a positive policy; and it only remains to be added, that every restriction becomes more directly fatal, when it operates on the moral part of our nature,-that if there is one thing more than another which absolutely requires free activity on the part of the individual, it is precisely education, whose object it is to develop the individual.

Wilhelm von Humboldt

Setting aside the fact that coercion and guidance can never succeed in producing virtue, they manifestly tend to weaken power; and what are tranquil order and outward morality without true moral strength and virtue? Moreover, however great an evil immorality may be, we must not forget that it is not without its beneficial consequences. It is only through extremes that men can arrive at the middle path of wisdom and virtue.

Wilhelm von Humboldt