Approximation Quote by Johann Kaspar Lavater
“An entirely honest man, in the severe sense of the word, exists no more than an entirely dishonest knave: the best and the worst are only approximations of those qualities. Who are those that never contradict themselves? yet honesty never contradicts itself: Who are those that always contradict themselves? yet knavery is mere self-contradiction. Thus the knowledge of man determines not the things themselves, but their proportions, the quan∣tum of congruities and incongruities.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Philosophical Reflections, 1790
Honesty and dishonesty are extremes; true knowledge lies in recognizing the nuanced proportions between them.
In simple terms: Truth and falsehood are not absolute; they exist on a spectrum.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between honesty and self‑awareness.
Themes
ethics
truth
self‑knowledge
Mood
analytical
contemplative
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- moral decision making
- self‑reflection
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
philosophical dualism
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- When does honesty become harmful?
- How do you handle self‑contradiction?
A Different Perspective
Absolute honesty can be unrealistic.
![“Pure sensism leads inevitably to universal doubt; if reality is in the end reducible to sensible appearance, then, since this is in a state of perpetual flux and self-contradiction, no kind of certitude will any longer be possible. [...] Truth is necessary and immutable; but in the sensible order…” quote by Étienne Gilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5c/etienne-gilson-21565_reality_pure-sensism-leads-inevitably-to-univers_1728131.jpg)
![“[A]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling.” quote by Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/212/emmett-tyrrell-42438_administration_a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing_38310.jpg)
