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Full Idea
Man never understands how anthropomorphic he is.
Clarification
'Anthropomorphic' means seeing human form in something inhuman
Gist of Idea
Man never understands how anthropomorphic he is
Source
Wolfgang von Goethe (Maxims and Reflections [1825], 203)
Book Ref
Goethe,J. Wolfgang: 'Maxims and Reflections' [Penguin 1840], p.23
A Reaction
Nice. It is true, even when it is pointed out to us. No matter how hard we try to realise how very different animals are from us, we can't help identifying with them. Religious people even do it with inanimate creation.
| 7538 | The happiest people link the beginning and end of life [Goethe] |
| 7539 | To get duties from people without rights, you must pay them well [Goethe] |
| 7540 | Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws [Goethe] |
| 7541 | Man never understands how anthropomorphic he is [Goethe] |
| 7542 | The best form of government teaches us to govern ourselves [Goethe] |
| 7543 | We gain self-knowledge through action, not thought - especially when doing our duty [Goethe] |
| 7544 | Many people imagine that to experience is to understand [Goethe] |