Max Weber Quotes

A collection of quotes by Max Weber.

Max Weber (1864-1920) was a German sociologist, philosopher, and political economist. He is considered one of the founding figures of modern sociology and played a significant role in shaping the field. Weber's works explored the relationships between society, economics, and politics, emphasizing the role of social action and rationalization in modern Western societies. His notable writings include "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" and "Economy and Society." Weber's work has had a profound influence on social sciences, and his concepts like rationalization, bureaucracy, and ideal types continue to be studied and debated.

One can say that three pre-eminent qualities are decisive fo

One can say that three pre-eminent qualities are decisive for the politician: passion, a feeling of responsibility, and a sense of proportion.

Only he has the calling for politics who is sure that he wil

Only he has the calling for politics who is sure that he will not crumble when the world from his point of view is too stupid or base for what he wants to offer. Only he who in the face of all this can say In spite of all! has the calling for politics.

No sociologist should think himself too good, even in his ol

No sociologist should think himself too good, even in his old age, to make tens of thousands of quite trivial computations in his head and perhaps for months at a time. One cannot with impunity try to transfer this task entirely to mechanical assistants if one wishes to figure something, even though the final result is often small indeed.

The nation is burdened with the heavy curse on those who com

The nation is burdened with the heavy curse on those who come afterwards. The generation before us was inspired by an activism and a naive enthusiasm, which we cannot rekindle, because we confront tasks of a different kind from those which our fathers faced.

The fate of our times is characterized by rationalization an

The fate of our times is characterized by rationalization and intellectualization and, above all, by the disenchantment of the world. Precisely the ultimate and most sublime values have retreated from public life either into the transcendental realm of mystic life or into the brotherliness of direct and personal human relations. It is not accidental that our greatest art is intimate and not monumental.

Modern Modernism

Only by strict specialization can the scientific worker beco

Only by strict specialization can the scientific worker become fully conscious, for once and perhaps never again in his lifetime, that he has achieved something that will endure. A really definitive and good accomplishment is today always a specialized ac

Professionalism