Der kategorische Imperativ, der überhaupt nur aussagt, was Verbindlichkeit sei, ist: handle nach einer Maxime, welche zugleich als ein allgemeines Gesetz gelten kann." - Meaning and context.">
There is … only a single categorical imperative and it is this: Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
 • Ch. 11

Der kategorische Imperativ, der überhaupt nur aussagt, was Verbindlichkeit sei, ist: handle nach einer Maxime, welche zugleich als ein allgemeines Gesetz gelten kann.

— Immanuel Kant

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Der kategorische Imperativ, der überhaupt nur aussagt, was Verbindlichkeit sei, ist: handle nach einer Maxime, welche zugleich als ein allgemeines Gesetz gelten kann." in the context of "There is … only a single categorical imperative and it is this: Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
 • Ch. 11" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Source: Wikiquote: "Immanuel Kant" (Quotes, Metaphysics of Morals (1797): Die Metaphysik der Sitten (1797) Translated as Introduction to the Metaphysics of Morals and also in two parts as The Metaphysical Principles of Right and Metaphysical Principles of Virtue) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Immanuel Kant

About Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant (22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804), born Emanuel Kant, was a German philosopher.