As freely as the firmament embraces the world, or the sun pours forth impartially his beams, so mercy must encircle both friend and foe.
Meaning of the quote
The quote means that just as the sky surrounds the whole world, and the sun shines its light on everyone equally, we should also show kindness and compassion to both our friends and our enemies. We shouldn't pick and choose who to be kind to, but should treat everyone with the same understanding and generosity, no matter who they are.
About Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller was a prominent German playwright, poet, philosopher, and historian. He was considered one of Germany’s most important classical playwrights and had a productive friendship with the famous Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, leading to the Weimar Classicism period. Schiller wrote successful plays like ‘The Robbers’ and historical works during his career.
More quotes from Friedrich Schiller
Against stupidity the very gods themselves contend in vain.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Grace is the beauty of form under the influence of freedom.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The greater part of humanity is too much harassed and fatigued by the struggle with want, to rally itself for a new and sterner struggle with error.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Will it, and set to work briskly.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The voice of the majority is no proof of justice.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
With stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
In the society, where people are just parts in a larger machine, individuals are unable to develop fully.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The world is ruled only by consideration of advantages.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Lose not yourself in a far off time, seize the moment that is thine.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Keep true to the dreams of your youth.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Great souls suffer in silence.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
There is no such thing as chance; and what seem to us merest accident springs from the deepest source of destiny.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he plays.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Art is the right hand of Nature. The latter has only given us being, the former has made us men.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
They would need to be already wise, in order to love wisdom.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Live with your century; but do not be its creature.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
I am better than my reputation.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Be noble minded! Our own heart, and not other men’s opinions of us, forms our true honor.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Power is the most persuasive rhetoric.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Art is the daughter of freedom.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Freedom can occur only through education.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Votes should be weighed not counted.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The rich become richer and the poor become poorer is a cry heard throughout the whole civilized world.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Not without a shudder may the human hand reach into the mysterious urn of destiny.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
To gain a crown by fighting is great, to reject it divine.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
No doubt the artist is the child of his time; but woe to him if he is also its disciple, or even its favorite.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Mankind is made great or little by its own will.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Full of wisdom are the ordinations of fate.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The history of the world is the world’s court of justice.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
No emperor has the power to dictate to the heart.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
A noble heart will always capitulate to reason.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Dare to err and to dream. Deep meaning often lies in childish plays.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Every true genius is bound to be naive.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Of all the possessions of this life fame is the noblest; when the body has sunk into the dust the great name still lives.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The key to education is the experience of beauty.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Happy he who learns to bear what he cannot change.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
It is criminal to steal a purse, daring to steal a fortune, a mark of greatness to steal a crown. The blame diminishes as the guilt increases.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The jest loses its point when he who makes it is the first to laugh.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
There is room in the smallest cottage for a happy loving pair.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
All things must; man is the only creature that wills.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
As freely as the firmament embraces the world, or the sun pours forth impartially his beams, so mercy must encircle both friend and foe.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower are the three factors which motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer comprise the threefold basis of action.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Appearance rules the world.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The will of man is his happiness.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Disappointments are to the soul what a thunderstorm is to the air.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
He who considers too much will perform little.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Opposition always inflames the enthusiast, never converts him.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
It does not prove a thing to be right because the majority say it is so.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Aesthetic matters are fundamental for the harmonious development of both society and the individual.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Peace is rarely denied to the peaceful.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
It is often wise to reveal that which cannot be concealed for long.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
It is difficult to discriminate the voice of truth from amid the clamor raised by heated partisans.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Utility is the great idol of the age, to which all powers must do service and all talents swear allegiance.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
It hinders the creative work of the mind if the intellect examines too closely the ideas as they pour in.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Nothing leads to good that is not natural.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Honesty prospers in every condition of life.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The strong man is strongest when alone.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
Worthless is the nation that does not gladly stake its all on its honor.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
The universe is one of God’s thoughts.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
That which is so universal as death must be a benefit.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
It is easy to give advice from a port of safety.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)
To save all we must risk all.
German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (1759-1805)