He who wishes to exert a useful influence must be careful to insult nothing. Let him not be troubled by what seems absurd, but concentrate his energies to the creation of what is good. He must not demolish, but build.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- To influence positively, avoid insult, ignore absurdities, and focus on building good.
- In plain terms
- Help others by not insulting, ignoring nonsense, and creating good.
- What can you take from it?
- Build rather than destroy, and stay focused on constructive goals.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When might confronting absurdity be necessary?
Another view
Ignoring absurdities may overlook hidden problems.
More from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.
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Permalink to quote #113 Everything is simpler than you think and at the same time more complex than you imagine.
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