Johann Kaspar Lavater: Divided Inheritance
on Saturday, July 1, 2017Johann Kaspar Lavater Money Quote saying we don’t completely understand the character of anyone until we split an inheritance with them. Johann Kaspar Lavater said:
“Say not you know another entirely, till you have divided an inheritance with him” — Johann Kaspar Lavater
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In this quote, Johann Kaspar Lavater is suggesting that inheriting wealth with someone is the true test of how well you know their character. By stating one should not claim to know another “entirely” until dividing an inheritance together, Lavater implies that sharing a monetary windfall often reveals inner qualities and priorities that remain hidden under normal circumstances.
The interpretation is that Lavater views the stresses of allocating a shared financial windfall as exposing each party’s integrity, priorities, sense of fairness and true nature in ways daily interactions do not. His perspective conveys inheritance as a crucible that lays bare inner traits, since money can bring out selfishness, greed or vindictiveness when interests are not perfectly aligned.
Overall, the quote presents Lavater as believing one cannot fully understand another without observing their conduct when substantial mutual financial interests are at stake and must be equitably divided or negotiated.
Birthday: November 15, 1741 – Death: January 2, 1801