Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

I do not believe that so-called truly pious people are good because they are pious but pious because they are good.

Understanding something is no reason for believing that it is true.

What am I?
What shall I do?
What may I hope and believe?
All things in philosophy can be reduced to this.

Quite a few people read simply to prevent themselves from thinking.

A book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it, an apostle is unlikely to look out.
We have no words for speaking about wisdom to idiots.
Whoever understands the wise is wise already.

If mankind suddenly became virtuous, thousands would starve.