--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lavater told Goethe that on a certain…" description: "\"Lavater told Goethe that on a certain occasion when he held the velvet bag in the church as collector of the offerings, he tried to observe only the ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/anna-brownell-jameson-10406_action_lavater-told-goethe-that-on-a-certain-oc_773080.jpg" --- # Lavater told Goethe that on a certain occasion when he… ![“Lavater told Goethe that on a certain occasion when he held the velvet bag in the church as collector of the offerings, he tried to observe only the hands; and he satisfied himself that in every individual the shape of the hand and of the fingers, the action and sentiment in dropping the gift into…” quote by Anna Brownell Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/anna-brownell-jameson-10406_action_lavater-told-goethe-that-on-a-certain-oc_773080.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/anna-brownell-jameson-10406_action_lavater-told-goethe-that-on-a-certain-oc_773080.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/anna-brownell-jameson-10406_action_lavater-told-goethe-that-on-a-certain-oc_773080.jpg) > “Lavater told Goethe that on a certain occasion when he held the velvet bag in the church as collector of the offerings, he tried to observe only the hands; and he satisfied himself that in every individual the shape of the hand and of the fingers, the action and sentiment in dropping the gift into the bag, were distinctly different and individually characteristic.” [Anna Brownell Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brownell-jameson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gestures reveal unique personal traits; observing them can reveal individual character. **In simple terms:** Hand movements show personal character. Key Takeaway Study gestures to understand people. Themes observation character human nature Mood analytical curious Type observational educational When to use this quote - social interactions - psychological assessments Key Concepts anthropology psychology nonverbal communication Questions to Reflect On - What gestures indicate trust? - How do cultural norms affect interpretation? A Different Perspective Gestures can be misinterpreted across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Collectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectors/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) ## Related quotes > [“Goethe, the great nineteenth-century thinker, reportedly summed up, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/goethe-the-great-nineteenth-century-thinker-reportedly-summed-up-you/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Ask Jeeves! Who ever used that thing? 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