Entersection

Mohandas K. Gandhi and child.
Image credit: India Daily - Munnabhai's 'Gandhigiri' motivates congress leaders too, got idea to celebrate 100th year of Satyagraha

Denn zu einem großen Manne gehört beides: Kleinigkeiten als Kleinigkeiten, und wichtige Dinge als wichtige Dinge zu behandeln.
— Gotthold Ephraim Lessing in Lessing’s Hamburgische dramaturgie: Für die oberste klasse höherer lehranstalten und den weiteren kreis der gebildeten erläutert, edited by Friedrich Schröter and Richard Thiele, (Halle, Germany: Buchhandlung des Maisenhauses, 1877), p. 208. First published as Hamburgische Dramaturgie, (Hamburg, Germany; Bremen, Germany: Cramer, 1767-68).

Translation

For to a great man both things are needful; to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important matters.
— in Selected Prose Works of G. E. Lessing, translated from the German by Helen Zimmern and Edward Calwert Beasley, edited by Edward Bell, (London: George Bell and Sons, 1889), p. 326. First published (London: George Bell and Sons, 1879).

Frequent Paraphrases

• It is the mark of a great man to treat trifles as trifles, and important matters as important.
• It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important.

Posted on behalf of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Friday, July 30th, 2010 under Quotations.