Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Quote “A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes.” ~ Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781) German Dramatist Agnostic , Experimentation , Faith , Heresy , Proverbs , Reason , Religion , Skepticism , Truth , Wisdom Ratings and Comments Reply Waffler, Smith, Arkansas 12/21/07 These are great quotes today. It seemeth to me we are losing tolerance and individual thinking in America today. I have heard Huckabee being attacked for trying to "establish religious domination". Some say the pilgrim fathers left Europe to escape such a thing. 1 Reply Ethan, Clinton 12/21/07 While this quote does hold true in some instances, if it were true all the time, Adolf Hitler would be nothing but a "heretic." He was much more than a heretic. 1 Reply Mike, Norwalk 12/21/07 Great quote. ... own eyes, as averse to spiritual eyes of truth, recognizing that which is (as simple as gravity, fiscal, non-aggression, etc. laws complete with resulting consequences). 1 Reply E Archer, NYC 12/21/07 Obviously spoken tongue-in-cheek. 1 Reply Ken, Allyn, WA 12/21/07 Sometimes I think I'm the only person left who is not an heretic! 1 Reply Judith, Corrales NM 12/28/07 Seems to me to say that anyone who is an independent thinker can be judged crudely because the general thought has been developed through societal conditioning. Therefore the independent thinkers ideas are foreign and constitute a threat to others, thereby rejecting his thought/ideas without reflection and labeling of identifying him as a heretic. Many "witches" in Salem were burned because they dared to be different than the general conditioned woman and a threat. Maybe this is too elementary but that is my contribution. 1 Reply Dan Loudon, Elk Grove, CA 5/27/09 This is a positive quote not a rebuke. He is a heretic to those not seeing with their own eyes. Not a rebel, nor a sinner but someone who doesn't fit in certain religious or secular worlds. Nothing to do with truth here but perception. Reply D W, NOLa 2/3/15 ...and makes up his own mind. Reply D W, NOLa 2/3/15 Reply jim k, Austin,Tx 2/3/15 I've been away with a stroke and was in the hospital for about 3 weeks. Reply Mike, Norwalk 2/4/15 jim, good to see you back ! Reply E Archer, NYC 2/4/15 Be well, jim k! Reply Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown 1/26/23 Insightful. SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Gotthold Ephraim Lessing quote is found in these categories: Agnostic quotes Experimentation quotes Faith quotes Heresy quotes Proverbs quotes Reason quotes Religion quotes Skepticism quotes Truth quotes Wisdom quotes About Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Bio of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Quotations by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Books by/about Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Gotthold Ephraim Lessing videos Gotthold Ephraim Lessing on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Gotthold Ephraim Lessing