Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer, OMwas a French-German theologian, organist, philosopher, and physician. He was born in the province of Alsace-Lorraine and although that region had been annexed by the German Empire four years earlier, and remained a German possession until 1918, he considered himself French and wrote mostly in French...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionDoctor
Date of Birth14 January 1875
CityKaysersberg, France
CountryGermany
views optimism world
Our degeneration, when it is traced back to its origin in our view of the world really consists in the fact that true optimism has vanished unperceived from our midst.
health doctors knowing
The witch doctor succeeds for the same reason all the rest of us succeed. Each patient carries his or her own doctor inside him or her. They come to us not knowing that truth. We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides within each patient a chance to go to work.
carpe-diem kind public-service
Every kind of service necessary to the public good becomes honorable by being necessary.
gratitude sunshine expression
We ought all to make an effort to act on our first thoughts and let our unspoken gratitude find expression. Then there will be more sunshine in the world, and more power to work for what is good.
spiritual stronger reverence-for-life
The stronger the reverence for natural life, the stronger grows also that for spiritual life.
civilization balance disturbed
The disastrous feature of our civilization is that it is far more developed materially than spiritually. Its balance is disturbed.
mean views world
What the activity of this disposition of ours means in the evolution of the world, we do not know. Nor can we regulate this activity from outside; we must leave entirely to each individual its shaping and its extension. From every point of view, then, world- and life-affirmation and ethics are non-rational, and we must have the courage to admit it.
might
Do something good and someone might imitate it.
progress debate strikes
When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust each other.
organization government conscience
We cannot abdicate our conscience to an organization, nor to a government.
men united
We are united with all life that is in nature. Man can no longer live his life for himself alone.
gone world helping
The greatest living person in the world is some individual who at this very moment has gone in love to help another.
guidance difficult difficult-things
The most difficult thing I have ever had to do is follow the guidance I prayed for.
achievement reverence-for-life direct
Reverence for life, veneratio vitæ, is the most direct and at the same time the profoundest achievement of my will-to-live.