--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tolerance should, strictly speaking, be…" description: "\"Tolerance should, strictly speaking, be only a passing mood; it ought to lead to acknowledgment and appreciation. To tolerate a person is to affront hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_acknowledgment_tolerance-should-strictly-speaking-be-on_893077.jpg" --- # Tolerance should, strictly speaking, be only a passing… ![“Tolerance should, strictly speaking, be only a passing mood; it ought to lead to acknowledgment and appreciation. To tolerate a person is to affront him.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_acknowledgment_tolerance-should-strictly-speaking-be-on_893077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_acknowledgment_tolerance-should-strictly-speaking-be-on_893077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_acknowledgment_tolerance-should-strictly-speaking-be-on_893077.jpg) > “Tolerance should, strictly speaking, be only a passing mood; it ought to lead to acknowledgment and appreciation. To tolerate a person is to affront him.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tolerance is a fleeting feeling that should evolve into genuine respect and appreciation, not merely a superficial allowance. **In simple terms:** Tolerance must become appreciation, not just a mood. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding beyond mere tolerance. Themes respect appreciation humanity Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace dynamics - multicultural interactions Key Concepts ethics social cognition Questions to Reflect On - How can you move from tolerance to true appreciation? - What actions demonstrate genuine respect? A Different Perspective Tolerance alone may not change underlying biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgment/) [Affront](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affront/) [Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Appreciation Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation-tolerate-1168731/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing/) [Passings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passings/) [Person Affront](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-affront-1168732/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Tolerance Strictly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance-strictly-1168730/) [Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate/) [Tolerate Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate-person-726959/) ## Related quotes > [Tolerance should really only be a passing attitude: it should lead to appreciation. To tolerate is to offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/tolerance-should-really-only-be-a-passing-attitude-it-should-lead-to/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crohn's patients differentiate their diet. You know, what I can handle and tolerate, another person couldn't, and what they can, I can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccready/crohn-s-patients-differentiate-their-diet-you-know-what-i-can-handle/) [Mike McCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccready/) > [“And, everyone knows, to tolerate a person telling you about his childhood it is necessary to be in love with him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/and-everyone-knows-to-tolerate-a-person-telling-you-about-his/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [Maitre D' : I appreciate your understanding. Ferris: Don't think twice. It's understanding that makes it possible for people like us to tolerate a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/maitre-d-i-appreciate-your-understanding-ferris-don-t-think-twice-it/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [“Loving someone isn't about what you can live with, accept or tolerate. For me, it's about the one person you can't live without. Too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-kay/loving-someone-isn-t-about-what-you-can-live-with-accept-or-tolerate/) [Piper Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-kay/) > [Everyone has a responsibility to not only tolerate another person's point of view, but also to accept it eagerly as a challenge to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/everyone-has-a-responsibility-to-not-only-tolerate-another-person-s/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > [Toleration ought in reality to be merely a transitory mood. It must lead to recognition. To tolerate is to affront.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/toleration-ought-in-reality-to-be-merely-a-transitory-mood-it-must/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Freedom consists not in refusing to recognize anything above us, but in respecting something which is above us; for by respecting it, we raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/freedom-consists-not-in-refusing-to-recognize-anything-above-us-but/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Black people in America have to, for their own protection, develop a defense mechanism, and I just grew terribly tired of it. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/black-people-in-america-have-to-for-their-own-protection-develop-a/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) > [Torture anywhere is an affront to human dignity everywhere... I call on all governments to join with the United States and the community of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/torture-anywhere-is-an-affront-to-human-dignity-everywhere-i-call-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Despite my best efforts, I'm not quite perfect. Let's just say I'm like one of those Hopi blankets where they leave a tiny flaw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/despite-my-best-efforts-i-m-not-quite-perfect-let-s-just-say-i-m-like/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [I'm achingly aware of my own limitations as both part of the human race and as an individual. I'm just, casting this out that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-m-achingly-aware-of-my-own-limitations-as-both-part-of-the-human/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Old, that's an affront no woman can well bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/old-that-s-an-affront-no-woman-can-well-bear/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Self-ruled Taiwan cannot be expected to accept such an affront to the legitimacy of its government and the self-determination of the Taiwanese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-akin/self-ruled-taiwan-cannot-be-expected-to-accept-such-an-affront-to-the/) [Todd Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-akin/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Acknowledgment quotes > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/every-acknowledgment-of-gratitude-is-a-circumstance-of-humiliation/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [When we would show any one that he is mistaken, our best course is to observe on what side he considers the subject,--for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-we-would-show-any-one-that-he-is-mistaken-our-best-course-is-to/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [True reconciliation is never cheap, for it is based on forgiveness which is costly. Forgiveness in turn depends on repentance, which has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/true-reconciliation-is-never-cheap-for-it-is-based-on-forgiveness/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“Acknowledgment remained absent long-term. She would push to the point of sickness through drinking and activities that made recovery more difficult. She would refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-winsomer/acknowledgment-remained-absent-long-term-she-would-push-to-the-point/) [Neal Winsomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-winsomer/) > [Few men are so obstinate in their atheism, that a pressing danger will not compel them to acknowledgment of a divine power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/few-men-are-so-obstinate-in-their-atheism-that-a-pressing-danger-will/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [To me, bitterness is the under-arm odor of wishful weakness. It is the graceless acknowledgment of defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/to-me-bitterness-is-the-under-arm-odor-of-wishful-weakness-it-is-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [It is a wonderful acknowledgment of what has been a six-year journey to make and release this first film in 'The Lord of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/it-is-a-wonderful-acknowledgment-of-what-has-been-a-six-year-journey/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [There's no praise or acknowledgment paid to women who raise the babies,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/there-s-no-praise-or-acknowledgment-paid-to-women-who-raise-the-babies/) [Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/) > [The number one goal in resolving a conflict is to make sure both sides maintain their self-esteem. Resolving conflict is rarely about who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/the-number-one-goal-in-resolving-a-conflict-is-to-make-sure-both/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [With respect to public acknowledgment of religious belief, it is entirely clear from our nation's historical practices that the Establishment Clause permits this disregard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/with-respect-to-public-acknowledgment-of-religious-belief-it-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [That acknowledgment of weakness which we make in imploring to be relieved from hunger and from temptation is surely wisely put in our daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/that-acknowledgment-of-weakness-which-we-make-in-imploring-to-be/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Under the blessings of Divine Providence ... It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/under-the-blessings-of-divine-providence-it-becomes-us-in-humility-to/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [“words both of acknowledgment and miscellaneous remark. My thanks are due in three quarters. To the Public, for the indulgent ear it has inclined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/words-both-of-acknowledgment-and-miscellaneous-remark-my-thanks-are/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [It is a significant acknowledgment that the way people are watching television is changing and the model is quickly changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/it-is-a-significant-acknowledgment-that-the-way-people-are-watching/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) [Browse all 119 Acknowledgment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tolerance should, strictly speaking, be only a passing mood; it ought to lead to acknowledgment and appreciation. 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