Adolph Freiherr Knigge Quotes

Freiherr Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwig Knigge was a German writer, Freemason, and a leading member of the Order of the Illuminati.



Knigge was born in Bredenbeck in the Electorate of Hanover as a member of the lesser nobility. When he was barely eleven, his mother died, and when his father died three years later the teenager inherited a large debt. His creditors took possession of the family property and assigned the boy a meagre pension of 500 thalers.He studied law from 1769 to 1772 in Göttingen where he became a member of Corps Hannovera. He was allegedly initiated into Freemasonry in 1772 in Kassel, where he held a position as Court Squire and Assessor of the War and Domains Exchequer. In 1777 he became Chamberlain at the Weimar court.

In 1780 Knigge joined Adam Weishaupt's Bavarian Illuminati and his work with the Illuminati gave the group a great deal of publicity. But in 1783 dissensions arose between Knigge and Weishaupt, which resulted in Knigge's final withdrawal from the group on 1 July 1784. Knigge stated that he could no longer endure Weishaupt's pedantic domineering, which frequently assumed offensive forms. He accused Weishaupt of "Jesuitism", and suspected him of being "a Jesuit in disguise" . "And was I", he adds, "to labour under his banner for mankind, to lead men under the yoke of so stiff-necked a fellow?—Never!"

Knigge's involvement with the Illuminati, support of the advancement of human rights, and a period of serious illness led to the loss of support of his aristocratic sponsors and finally his fortune. Knigge found a measure of financial stability again with a position in Bremen in 1790. He died in Bremen in 1796.

In Germany, Knigge is best remembered for his book Über den Umgang mit Menschen , a treatise on the fundamental principles of human relations that has the reputation of being the authoritative guide to behaviour, politeness, and etiquette. The work is more of a sociological and philosophical treatise on the basis of human relations than a how-to guide on etiquette, but the German word “Knigge” has come to mean “good manners” or books on etiquette. Wikipedia  

✵ 16. October 1752 – 6. May 1796   •   Other names Адольф Книгге, Adolph Freiherr von Knigge
Adolph Freiherr Knigge photo

Works

Über den Umgang mit Menschen
Adolph Freiherr Knigge
Adolph Freiherr Knigge: 20   quotes 3   likes

Famous Adolph Freiherr Knigge Quotes

“People far too easily neglect or abuse us, as soon as we become intimate with them. To live pleasantly, one must almost always remain a stranger in the crowd.”

Gar zu leicht missbrauchen oder vernachlässigen uns die Menschen, sobald wir mit ihnen vertraulich werden. Um angenehm zu leben, muss man fast immer ein Fremder unter den Leuten bleiben.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“Act well and properly, less to please others, more to keep your own self-respect.”

Handle gut und anständig, weniger anderen zu gefallen, eher um deine eigene Achtung nicht zu verscherzen.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“One should never forget, that society would rather be amused than instructed.”

Vor allen Dingen soll man nie vergessen, daß die Gesellschaft lieber unterhalten, als unterrichtet sein will.
Variant translation: Above all, we should never forget that society would prefer to be entertained, than taught.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“One of the most important virtues in social life, a virtue that is becoming less common by the day, is discretion.”

Eine der wichtigsten Tugenden im gesellschaftlichen Leben, die täglich seltener wird, ist die Verschwiegenheit.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“Compulsion kills all noble, freely given devotion.”

Zwang tötet alle edle, freiwillige Hingebung.
This is often shortened to "Zwang tötet": "Compulsion kills" or "Force kills".
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“In many matters children — not ensnared by dogmatism, passion, or erudition — judge far truer than adults.”

Über viele Dinge urteilen Kinder, von Systemgeist, Leidenschaft und Gelehrsamkeit unverführt, weit richtiger als Erwachsene.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

Adolph Freiherr Knigge Quotes

“Do not be too much a slave of others' opinions of you!”

Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)
Context: Do not be too much a slave of others' opinions of you! Be self-sufficient! Why, in the end, does the opinion of the whole world trouble you, if you do what you should?

“Whoever lives continually in a state of dissipation and distraction, becomes a stranger in his own heart.”

Wer immer in Zerstreuungen lebt, wird fremd im eigenen Herzen.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“For a person of understanding, interacting with children is endlessly interesting. Here one sees the book of nature thrown open, stripped of artificiality.”

Der Umgang mit Kindern hat für einen verständigen Menschen unendlich viel Interesse. Hier sieht er das Buch der Natur in unverfälschter Ausgabe aufgeschlagen.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“When you are alone, never let your clothing fall into disarray. Do not allow yourself to be dirty, have poor posture, or have rude manners when no one is observing you.”

In deiner Kleidung verfalle nie in Nachlässigkeit, wenn du allein bist. Gehe nicht schmutzig, nicht krumm noch mit groben Manieren einher, wenn dich niemand beobachtet.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“Learn to take on the tone of whatever company you find yourself in.”

Lerne den Ton der Gesellschaft anzunehmen, in der du dich befindest.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“In cities people think that it is good manners not even to know who lives in the same building.”

In Städten glaubt man, es gehöre zum guten Tone, nicht einmal zu wissen, wer in demselben Hause wohnt.
Quoted in Der kleine Rechthaber: Wem gehört die Parklücke und andere juristische Überraschungen (2008) by Claus Murken, p. 79.

“Rise in the presence of a gray head.”

Vor einem grauen Haupte sollst du aufstehen!
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“Without inspiration, which fills the soul with a healthy warmth, nothing great can ever be brought to pass.”

Ohne Begeisterung, welche die Seele mit einer gesunden Wärme erfüllt, wird nie etwas Großes zustande gebracht.
As quoted in ‪30 Minuten für intelligente Schlagfertigkeit‬ (2004) by Stephané Etrillard, p. 55.

“Learn to bear criticism. Do not be childishly biased by your own opinions.”

Lerne Widerspruch ertragen. Sei nicht kindisch eingenommen von deinen Meinungen.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“We see the wisest, most intelligent people take steps in life, that we must shake our head over.”

Wir sehen die klügsten, verständigsten Menschen im Leben Schritte tun, über die wir den Kopf schütteln müssen.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“No bonds last longer than those made in early youth. At that age one is less mistrustful and less troubled by trifles.”

Keine Verbindungen pflegen dauerhafter zu sein als die, welche in der frühen Jugend geschlossen werden. Man ist da noch weniger misstrauisch, weniger schwierig in Kleinigkeiten.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“There is no such thing as a 'white lie' — there has not yet been an untruth uttered, that sooner or later hasn't led to unfortunate consequences for everyone.”

Es gibt keine Notlügen; noch nie ist eine Unwahrheit gesprochen worden, die nicht früh oder spät nachteillige Folgen für jedermann gehabt hätte.
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“Respect yourself, if you want others to respect you.”

Book 1, Chapter 2, Section 5.

Variant: ""Have a proper regard for yourself if you wish to be esteemed by others.""
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

“Respect old age!”

Ehre das Alter!
Über den Umgang mit Menschen (1788)

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