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About this quote

What does it mean?
Ideas have their own existence and influence how we perceive reality.
In plain terms
Thoughts create their own realities.
What can you take from it?
Treat ideas as having real impact.

Where it applies

  • philosophical discussion
  • creative work
  • theory building

Putting it to work

  • evaluate ideas critically
  • respect conceptual frameworks

Questions to consider

  • How do ideas shape your world?

Another view

Ideas lack physical substance despite their influence.

More from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

  1. A clever child brought up with a foolish one can itself become foolish. Man is so perfectable and corruptible he can become a fool through good sense.

    Permalink to quote #58
  2. I have remarked very clearly that I am often of one opinion when I am lying down and of another when I am standing up.

    Permalink to quote #60
  3. I am convinced we do not only love ourselves in others but hate ourselves in others too.

    Permalink to quote #57

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