“It is only through extremes that men can arrive at the middle path of wisdom and virtue.”

— Wilhelm Von Humboldt

Source: The Limits of State Action (1792), Ch. 8
Context: Setting aside the fact that coercion and guidance can never succeed in producing virtue, they manifestly tend to weaken power; and what are tranquil order and outward morality without true moral strength and virtue? Moreover, however great an evil immorality may be, we must not forget that it is not without its beneficial consequences. It is only through extremes that men can arrive at the middle path of wisdom and virtue.

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Wilhelm Von Humboldt35

German (Prussian) philosopher, government functionary, dipl… 1767–1835

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