---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do either nothing or everything; the…"
description: "\"“Do either nothing or everything; the mediocre, the moderate, is repellent to me: I prefer an extreme.”\" — Johann Georg Hamann"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/johann-georg-hamann-17779_moderate_do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-medi_2628555.jpg"
---

#  Do either nothing or everything; the mediocre, the…

![“Do either nothing or everything; the mediocre, the moderate, is repellent to me: I prefer an extreme.” quote by Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/johann-georg-hamann-17779_moderate_do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-medi_2628555.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/johann-georg-hamann-17779_moderate_do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-medi_2628555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/johann-georg-hamann-17779_moderate_do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-medi_2628555.jpg)

> ““Do either nothing or everything; the mediocre, the moderate, is repellent to me: I prefer an extreme.””

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Extreme positions are preferred over mediocrity; mediocrity is detestable.

**In simple terms:** Prefer extremes, reject mediocrity.

Key Takeaway

Choose boldness over mediocrity.

Themes

extremism mediocrity values

Mood

critical provocative

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- artistic creation
- political activism
- personal decisions
- career choices

Key Concepts

existentialism philosophical radicalism

Questions to Reflect On

- When is moderation better?
- How to avoid reckless extremes?

A Different Perspective

Extremes can lead to instability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“Do nothing or everything; the mediocre, the moderate, is repellent to me; I prefer an extreme.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/do-nothing-or-everything-the-mediocre-the-moderate-is-repellent-to-me/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [“In politics, everyone regards themselves as a moderate, because they know some other sumbitch who's twice as crazy as they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-tyson/in-politics-everyone-regards-themselves-as-a-moderate-because-they/)

[Timothy B. Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-tyson/)

> [I'm quite moderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-colmes/i-m-quite-moderate/)

[Alan Colmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-colmes/)

> [When the phonies are expelled from their leadership roles and the Republican Party backs a moderate gubernatorial candidate acceptable to the rank and file…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/when-the-phonies-are-expelled-from-their-leadership-roles-and-the/)

[Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/)

> [Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/be-moderate-in-order-to-taste-the-joys-of-life-in-abundance/)

[Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/)

> [It is the mark of a gentleman to be moderate in the use of wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athenaeus/it-is-the-mark-of-a-gentleman-to-be-moderate-in-the-use-of-wine/)

[Athenaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athenaeus/)

> [I'm a moderate. I hang out in the middle. I vote against my party with some regularity and try to compromise. It doesn't appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-a-moderate-i-hang-out-in-the-middle-i-vote-against-my-party-with/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I'm, in general, an advocate of moderate ticket prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/i-m-in-general-an-advocate-of-moderate-ticket-prices/)

[Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/)

> [I keep on saying, being moderate is fundamental to Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/i-keep-on-saying-being-moderate-is-fundamental-to-islam/)

[Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/)

> [All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/all-passions-that-suffer-themselves-to-be-relished-and-digested-are/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [As militias go, the Ohio Defense Force is on the moderate side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/as-militias-go-the-ohio-defense-force-is-on-the-moderate-side/)

[Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/)

> [Moderate Republicans are reverse Houdinis. They tie themselves up in knots and then tell you they can’t do anything because they’re tied up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/moderate-republicans-are-reverse-houdinis-they-tie-themselves-up-in/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [In Tunisia, the so-called Yasmin revolution has led to the installation of a relatively moderate Islamic government. Whether or not that means democracy will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/in-tunisia-the-so-called-yasmin-revolution-has-led-to-the/)

[Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/)

> [“How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, more moderate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/how-earnestly-did-she-then-wish-that-her-former-opinions-had-been/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/)

[Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/)

## More by Johann Georg Hamann

> [Nature is a book, a letter, a fairy tale (in the philosophical sense) or whatever you want to call it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/nature-is-a-book-a-letter-a-fairy-tale-in-the-philosophical-sense-or/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [Being, belief and reason are pure relations, which cannot be dealt with absolutely, and are not things but pure scholastic concepts, signs for understanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/being-belief-and-reason-are-pure-relations-which-cannot-be-dealt-with/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [What for others is style, for me is soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/what-for-others-is-style-for-me-is-soul/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [I look upon logical proofs the way a well-bred girl looks upon a love letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/i-look-upon-logical-proofs-the-way-a-well-bred-girl-looks-upon-a-love/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [“I look upon the finest logical demonstration the way a sensible girl regards a love letter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/i-look-upon-the-finest-logical-demonstration-the-way-a-sensible-girl/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [Self knowledge begins with the neighbor, the mirror, and just the same with true self-love; that goes from the mirror to the matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/self-knowledge-begins-with-the-neighbor-the-mirror-and-just-the-same/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [The philosophers have always given truth a bill of divorce, by separating what nature has joined together and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/the-philosophers-have-always-given-truth-a-bill-of-divorce-by/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [If only I was as eloquent as Demosthenes, I would have to do no more than repeat a single word three times. Reason is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/if-only-i-was-as-eloquent-as-demosthenes-i-would-have-to-do-no-more/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [Everything the human being heard from the beginning, saw with its eyes, looked upon and touched with its hands was a living word; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/everything-the-human-being-heard-from-the-beginning-saw-with-its-eyes/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [Physics is nothing but the ABC's. Nature is an equation with an unknown, a Hebrew word which is written only with consonants to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/physics-is-nothing-but-the-abc-s-nature-is-an-equation-with-an/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [If only I was as eloquent as Demosthenes, I would have to do no more than repeat a single word three times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/if-only-i-was-as-eloquent-as-demosthenes-i-would-have-to-do-no-more-2/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [The product of paper and printed ink, that we commonly call the book, is one of the great visible mediators between spirit and time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/the-product-of-paper-and-printed-ink-that-we-commonly-call-the-book/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [Indeed, if a chief question does remain: how is the power to think possible? - The power to think right and left, before and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/indeed-if-a-chief-question-does-remain-how-is-the-power-to-think/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [When I rest my feet my mind also ceases to function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/when-i-rest-my-feet-my-mind-also-ceases-to-function/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

> [“While we are aiming at clear ideas, the food gets cold and tasteless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/while-we-are-aiming-at-clear-ideas-the-food-gets-cold-and-tasteless/)

[Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

[Explore all 36 Johann Georg Hamann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/)

## More Moderate quotes

> [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/)

[Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/)

> [“How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, more moderate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/how-earnestly-did-she-then-wish-that-her-former-opinions-had-been/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [In Tunisia, the so-called Yasmin revolution has led to the installation of a relatively moderate Islamic government. Whether or not that means democracy will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/in-tunisia-the-so-called-yasmin-revolution-has-led-to-the/)

[Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/)

> [Moderate Republicans are reverse Houdinis. They tie themselves up in knots and then tell you they can’t do anything because they’re tied up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/moderate-republicans-are-reverse-houdinis-they-tie-themselves-up-in/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [As militias go, the Ohio Defense Force is on the moderate side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/as-militias-go-the-ohio-defense-force-is-on-the-moderate-side/)

[Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/)

> [All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/all-passions-that-suffer-themselves-to-be-relished-and-digested-are/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [I keep on saying, being moderate is fundamental to Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/i-keep-on-saying-being-moderate-is-fundamental-to-islam/)

[Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/)

> [I'm, in general, an advocate of moderate ticket prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/i-m-in-general-an-advocate-of-moderate-ticket-prices/)

[Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/)

> [I'm a moderate. I hang out in the middle. I vote against my party with some regularity and try to compromise. It doesn't appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-a-moderate-i-hang-out-in-the-middle-i-vote-against-my-party-with/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [It is the mark of a gentleman to be moderate in the use of wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athenaeus/it-is-the-mark-of-a-gentleman-to-be-moderate-in-the-use-of-wine/)

[Athenaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athenaeus/)

> [Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/be-moderate-in-order-to-taste-the-joys-of-life-in-abundance/)

[Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/)

> [When the phonies are expelled from their leadership roles and the Republican Party backs a moderate gubernatorial candidate acceptable to the rank and file…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/when-the-phonies-are-expelled-from-their-leadership-roles-and-the/)

[Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/)

> [I'm quite moderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-colmes/i-m-quite-moderate/)

[Alan Colmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-colmes/)

> [“In politics, everyone regards themselves as a moderate, because they know some other sumbitch who's twice as crazy as they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-tyson/in-politics-everyone-regards-themselves-as-a-moderate-because-they/)

[Timothy B. Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-tyson/)

> [Please if you find my words or actions offensive or really bad, do take your time to moderate it with your interpretations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/please-if-you-find-my-words-or-actions-offensive-or-really-bad-do/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

Browse all 133 Moderate quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Do either nothing or everything; the mediocre, the moderate, is repellent to me: I prefer an extreme.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Johann Georg Hamann"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-mediocre-the-moderate-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Moderate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-mediocre-the-moderate-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/johann-georg-hamann-17779_moderate_do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-medi_2628555.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/johann-georg-hamann-17779_moderate_do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-medi_2628555.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/johann-georg-hamann-17779_moderate_do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-medi_2628555.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do either nothing or everything; the mediocre, the moderate, is repellent to me: I prefer an extreme.” — Johann Georg Hamann",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Johann Georg Hamann",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Do either nothing or everything; the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-mediocre-the-moderate-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/do-either-nothing-or-everything-the-mediocre-the-moderate-is/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```