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Friedrich Schleiermacher Quotes

Powerful Friedrich Schleiermacher for Daily Growth

About Friedrich Schleiermacher

Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834), a prominent German theologian, philosopher, and linguist, was born in Stolp, Pomerania, Prussia (now Stargard, Poland). Known for his significant contributions to theology, biblical exegesis, and hermeneutics, Schleiermacher's works continue to influence religious studies and philosophy. In 1786, Schleiermacher enrolled at the University of Halle where he studied theology, philology, and philosophy under influential professors such as Johann Salomo Semler and Johann August Ernesti. This education laid the foundation for his groundbreaking works in theology and biblical criticism. Schleiermacher's life took a dramatic turn when he was appointed to the University of Halle in 1796, where he served as an adjunct professor. During this time, he published his influential work "On the Different Methods of Interpreting the New Testament" (1797), which established him as a leading biblical scholar. In 1804, Schleiermacher accepted a position at the University of Berlin, where he developed the concept of "religion as feeling and expression." This idea was further expanded in his work "On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers" (1799), which argued that religion is an inherent human impulse rooted in feelings of dependence and communion with the universe. Throughout his career, Schleiermacher also made significant contributions to linguistics by developing a method for studying the history of language called "Comparative Grammar." His major works in this field include "Grammar" (1811-1823) and "New Testament Dictation" (1819). Schleiermacher's influence on religious studies, philosophy, and linguistics is undeniable. His ideas continue to shape academic discourse in these fields, making him one of the most important figures in 19th-century German intellectual history.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Religion is the feeling of absolute dependence."

Friedrich Schleiermacher's quote, "Religion is the feeling of absolute dependence," suggests that religion is an emotional or experiential recognition of a higher power or existence beyond ourselves, to which we are fundamentally connected and upon which we are utterly reliant. This feeling of "absolute dependence" implies a deep sense of humility, reverence, and awe in acknowledging the mysteries of life that lie beyond our control and understanding. It's about recognizing the divine, transcendent aspect that permeates through all aspects of existence, shaping our consciousness, values, and actions as we navigate our lives.

"The New Testament reveals the essence of Christianity as a life in which love to God and love to man go hand in hand."

This quote by Friedrich Schleiermacher suggests that, according to Christianity as portrayed in the New Testament, genuine faith is characterized by a harmonious blend of love towards God and love towards fellow human beings. It implies that these two types of love are not separate or independent but interconnected; they should coexist and be mutually reinforcing in the life of a Christian. This holistic approach to living out one's faith underscores the importance of embodying both devotion to the divine and compassion for humanity, thereby reflecting the teachings and values exemplified by Jesus Christ.

"Man can understand himself and the world only through language."

This quote by Friedrich Schleiermacher highlights the fundamental role language plays in human understanding, both of oneself and the world. Language serves as a tool that allows us to construct, communicate, and interpret thoughts, ideas, emotions, and knowledge. It's through language that we create meaning, build relationships, and make sense of our experiences. Essentially, language empowers humans to connect with others and understand the complexities of life, making it an indispensable element in human existence.

"The task of hermeneutics is to make understood what has been said."

This quote by Friedrich Schleiermacher signifies that the core purpose of hermeneutics, a discipline that focuses on interpretation and understanding, is to clarify and render comprehensible what was originally expressed or stated. It emphasizes the importance of communication and understanding in interpreting texts, ideas, or actions across different contexts and cultures.

"Understanding is a mental process in which we find ourselves in an object, and in this way, not only do we attain knowledge of it, but also, as it were, a kind of possession of it."

This quote by Friedrich Schleiermacher suggests that true understanding is achieved when we empathize with or identify with an object or concept to the extent that we feel a sense of ownership or connection to it. In this process, not only do we gain knowledge about it, but we also internalize its essence, thereby deepening our comprehension beyond mere factual recognition. This holistic, immersive approach to understanding fosters a more profound and personal relationship with the object or concept, which can lead to a richer, more meaningful understanding overall.

And, moreover, it is art in its most general and comprehensive form that is here discussed, for the dialogue embraces everything connected with it, from its greatest object, the state, to its least, the embellishment of sensuous existence.

- Friedrich Schleiermacher

Art, Here, Embraces, Object

The first, that their pretensions to this possession of an art properly so called in their art of speaking are entirely unfounded; and the second, that they are involved in a profound mistake in their confusion of the good with the pleasant.

- Friedrich Schleiermacher

Art, Mistake, Pleasant, Confusion

The essence of religion consists in the feeling of an absolute dependence.

- Friedrich Schleiermacher

Essence, Absolute, Consists, Dependence

Now the relation which, in the sphere of nature, being and semblance or sensation bear to one another in this antithesis, is the same as that which in ethics exists between good and pleasure or feeling.

- Friedrich Schleiermacher

Which, Semblance, Antithesis, Sphere

For when it is the good that is under consideration, and the ethical object is predominant, truth must be considered more in reference to art than science, if, that is, unity is to be preserved in the work generally.

- Friedrich Schleiermacher

Art, Predominant, Considered, Consideration

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