Great advantage is drawn from knowledge of your adversary, and when you know the measure of his intelligence and character, you can use it to play on his weakness.
Frederick The GreatRead
It seems to me that man is made to act rather than to know: the principles of things escape our most persevering researches.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that human beings are more inclined to take action than to seek knowledge, as understanding can often elude us.
Frederick the Great emphasizes the idea that mankind is inherently action-oriented. He argues that despite our relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding about the world, true grasp of the underlying principles often remains out of reach. Thus, it suggests that individuals should focus more on taking decisive actions instead of merely accumulating knowledge that may be ultimately inaccessible or insufficient.
Themes
ActionKnowledgeUnderstandingLifePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about taking risks and making choices.
More from Frederick The Great
All quotes βReligion is the idol of the mob; it adores everything it does not understand.
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I begin by taking. I shall find scholars later to demonstrate my perfect right.
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No government can exist without taxation. The money must necessarily be levied on the people; and the grand art consists of levying so as not to oppress.
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It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised.
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I love opposition that has convictions.
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