--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Germans can be self-assured on the basis…" description: "\"“Germans can be self-assured on the basis of an abstract idea—science, that is, an imaginary knowledge of the perfect truth. A Frenchman is self-assure..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/leo-tolstoy-55_absolute-truth_germans-can-be-self-assured-on-the-basis_1226369.png" --- # Germans can be self-assured on the basis of an abstract… ![“Germans can be self-assured on the basis of an abstract idea—science, that is, an imaginary knowledge of the perfect truth. A Frenchman is self-assured because he considers himself personally, in mind as well as body, irresistibly enchanting for men as well as women. An Englishman is self-assured…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/leo-tolstoy-55_absolute-truth_germans-can-be-self-assured-on-the-basis_1226369.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/leo-tolstoy-55_absolute-truth_germans-can-be-self-assured-on-the-basis_1226369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/leo-tolstoy-55_absolute-truth_germans-can-be-self-assured-on-the-basis_1226369.png) > ““Germans can be self-assured on the basis of an abstract idea—science, that is, an imaginary knowledge of the perfect truth. A Frenchman is self-assured because he considers himself personally, in mind as well as body, irresistibly enchanting for men as well as women. An Englishman is self-assured on the grounds that he is a citizen of the best-organized state in the world, and therefore, as an Englishman, he always knows what he must do, and knows that everything he does as an Englishman is unquestionably good. An Italian is self-assured because he is excitable and easily forgets himself and others. A Russian is self-assured precisely because he does not know anything and does not want to know anything, because he does not believe it possible to know anything fully. A German is self-assured worst of all, and most firmly of all, and most disgustingly of all, because he imagines that he knows the truth, science, which he has invented himself, but which for him is the absolute truth.”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tolstoy satirically critiques national stereotypes, suggesting each culture’s confidence stems from a flawed, often self‑deluding belief system. **In simple terms:** National pride is based on shaky, self‑justifying ideas. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about cultural confidence. Themes culture identity stereotypes pride illusion Mood critical ironic thought‑provoking Type satirical philosophical cultural commentary When to use this quote - political debate - cross‑cultural dialogue - education - media analysis Key Concepts nationalism self‑deception humor philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do these caricatures affect real diplomatic relations? - Can we find common ground beyond national myths? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can oversimplify and misrepresent complex societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) [Self Assured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-assured/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Germans are self-confident on the basis of an abstract notion—science, that is, the supposed knowledge of absolute truth. A Frenchman is self-assured because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/germans-are-self-confident-on-the-basis-of-an-abstract-notion-science/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“A Frenchman's self-assurance stems from his belief that he is mentally and physically irresistibly fascinating to both men and women. An Englishman's self-assurance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-frenchman-s-self-assurance-stems-from-his-belief-that-he-is/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“There are no self made heroes or leaders. No matter how rugged or self assured, everyone requires a cast of players - friends, mentors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-nordby/there-are-no-self-made-heroes-or-leaders-no-matter-how-rugged-or-self/) [Jacob Nordby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-nordby/) > [Most of the characters I've been offered have been very dominating and self-assured, maybe because of the way I look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaideep-ahlawat/most-of-the-characters-i-ve-been-offered-have-been-very-dominating/) [Jaideep Ahlawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaideep-ahlawat/) > [There is, of course, always the personal satisfaction of writing down one's experiences so they may be saved, caught and pinned under glass, hoarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/there-is-of-course-always-the-personal-satisfaction-of-writing-down-2/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [So self-aware that no one can disclose anything about me I don't already know, and so self-assured that no one can take what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanese-henley/so-self-aware-that-no-one-can-disclose-anything-about-me-i-don-t/) [Vanese Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanese-henley/) > [“It takes a very self-assured man to appreciate the talents of another,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-very-self-assured-man-to-appreciate-the-talents-of-another/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am a woman of the 21st Century who is self-assured and speaks my mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ednita-nazario/i-am-a-woman-of-the-21st-century-who-is-self-assured-and-speaks-my/) [Ednita Nazario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ednita-nazario/) > [The self-assured strength that grows from knowing that we already have what we need makes us gentle, because we are no longer desperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/the-self-assured-strength-that-grows-from-knowing-that-we-already/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [“It was me, only me. Self-contained, self-reliant, and always, unquestionably self-assured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/it-was-me-only-me-self-contained-self-reliant-and-always/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I'm more pompous and self-assured and determined that if - you know - if the truth can be told so as to be understood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-brigstocke/i-m-more-pompous-and-self-assured-and-determined-that-if-you-know-if/) [Marcus Brigstocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-brigstocke/) > [“There is, of course, always the personal satisfaction of writing down one's own experiences so they may be saved, caught and pinned under glass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/there-is-of-course-always-the-personal-satisfaction-of-writing-down/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [I am a little - I won't say arrogant - self-assured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/i-am-a-little-i-won-t-say-arrogant-self-assured/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [Load up on guns, bring your friends It's fun to lose and to pretend She's over bored and self assured Oh no, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirvana/load-up-on-guns-bring-your-friends-it-s-fun-to-lose-and-to-pretend/) [Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirvana/) > [“He was self-assured without being cocky, friendly but not pushy, independent but in no way precocious. He was also exceptionally selfreliant, perfectly happy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-vincenzi/he-was-self-assured-without-being-cocky-friendly-but-not-pushy/) [Penny Vincenzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-vincenzi/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [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/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Absolute truth quotes > [“I know quite well why I became a historian… It was because dissension was frowned upon when I was a child: 'Don't argue, Claudia,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-know-quite-well-why-i-became-a-historian-it-was-because-dissension/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“When you’ve tired of me,” she said softly, precisely, “Apollo will still be my brother. Will still be there for me.” “I’ll never tire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/when-you-ve-tired-of-me-she-said-softly-precisely-apollo-will-still/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-m-morris/the-bodily-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-from-the-dead-is-the-crowning/) [Henry M. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-m-morris/) > [“I think adults forget just how much faith teenagers can have in them, just how willing to believe that adults, by virtue of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-think-adults-forget-just-how-much-faith-teenagers-can-have-in-them/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [The Absolute Truth of Knowledge is precisely non-Knowledge. If this Mirror called Knowledge remains in the phase where nothing is reflected in it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-absolute-truth-of-knowledge-is-precisely-non-knowledge-if-this/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/let-every-one-of-us-cultivate-in-every-word-that-issues-from-our/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Who can know what love means at the feet of the absolute truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/who-can-know-what-love-means-at-the-feet-of-the-absolute-truth/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... But...I do not venture to assume that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/when-i-say-that-a-thing-is-true-i-mean-that-i-cannot-help-believing/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him. Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything. Because God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-william-r-bright/attributes-of-god-because-god-is-spirit-i-will-seek-intimate/) Dr William R Bright > [“Somehow I feel that a person who thinks he has discovered the absolute truth will not be someone I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-joseph/somehow-i-feel-that-a-person-who-thinks-he-has-discovered-the/) [Manu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-joseph/) > [“Leave science out of it and live in accordance with a non-scientific absolute truth. This has been the strategy of liberal humanism, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/leave-science-out-of-it-and-live-in-accordance-with-a-non-scientific/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [If I'd written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people - including me - would be rotting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-i-d-written-all-the-truth-i-knew-for-the-past-ten-years-about-600/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Only when we realize that there is no eternal, unchanging truth or absolute truth can we arouse in ourselves a sense of intellectual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/only-when-we-realize-that-there-is-no-eternal-unchanging-truth-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Nobody in this world possesses absolute truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nobody-in-this-world-possesses-absolute-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It isn’t the absolute truth about life and death, but the thing that helps us to live and confront the challenges of day-to-day life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-the-absolute-truth-about-life-and-death-but-the-thing-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Browse all 317 Absolute truth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Germans can be self-assured on the basis of an abstract idea—science, that is, an imaginary knowledge of the perfect truth. A Frenchman is self-assured because he considers himself personally, in mind as well as body, irresistibly enchanting for men as well as women. An Englishman is self-assured on the grounds that he is a citizen of the best-organized state in the world, and therefore, as an Englishman, he always knows what he must do, and knows that everything he does as an Englishman is unquestionably good. An Italian is self-assured because he is excitable and easily forgets himself and others. A Russian is self-assured precisely because he does not know anything and does not want to know anything, because he does not believe it possible to know anything fully. 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