Page:The reflections of Lichtenberg.djvu/160

 It is an old rule that an impudent man can look modest when he wishes, but never the modest impudent.

If plays may be written that are not meant to be acted, what is to prevent books being written that are not meant to be read ? This great genius had united in his own person the peculiarities of the greatest men: he held his head on one side like Alexander, invariably had something nestling in his hair like Caesar, could drink coffee like Leibnitz, and when he was once well settled in his arm-chair forgot all about eating and drinking like Newton, and like him had to be awakened; his wig he wore in the manner of Dr. Johnson, and always left one of his buttons undone like Cervantes. The journalists have built themselves a little wooden chapel, which they call the Temple of Fame. Here they nail up and take down portraits all day long, and hammer away so that you can hardly hear yourself speak.

A philosopher in the island of Zezu once propounded the following query: Whether, if a man could turn himself into an ox, it could be regarded as a case of suicide to do so, and whether in that event the ox would be penally liable? The motives that lead us to do things might be