Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
If Switzerland were flat, its area would exceed Prussia's.
In plain terms
A flat Switzerland would be larger than Prussia.
What can you take from it?
Geography can be counter‑intuitive when dimensions change.

Where it applies

  • map reading
  • educational trivia

Putting it to work

  • compare dimensions
  • use analogies

Questions to consider

  • What other places change rank when imagined differently?

Another view

Statement is a trivial geographic fact.

More from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  1. If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse; however if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that.

    Permalink to quote #115
  2. If you must tell me your opinions, tell me what you believe in. I have plenty of doubts of my own.

    Permalink to quote #117
  3. If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts; and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul.

    Permalink to quote #114

Related quotes

  1. Too often critics seem more intent on seeking new ways to alter Congress than to truly learn how it functions. They might well profit from the advice of Thomas…

    Gerald FordGerald Ford quote #1
  2. The terrible state of public education has paid huge dividends in ignorance. Huge. We now have a country that can be told blatant lies - easily checkable, blat…

    Fran LebowitzFran Lebowitz quote #7
  3. No man is the wiser for his learning.

    John SeldenJohn Selden quote #8