Association with women is the basis of good manners.

What right those who govern have to govern they don't question, they just govern. Whether the people have a right to depose them that doesn't concern them. All they are concerned with is that the people will not be tempted to depose them.

If you want to reach the infinite, then explore every aspect of the finite.

Whoso is content with pure experience and acts upon it has enough of truth.

What am I then...? Everything that I have seen, heard, and observed I have collected and exploited. My works have been nourished by countless different individuals, by innocent and wise ones, people of intelligence and dunces. Childhood, maturity and old age all have brought me their thoughts....their perspectives on life. I have often reaped what others have sowed. My work is the work of a collective being that bears the name Goethe.

Beware of dissipating your powers; strive constantly to concentrate them.

The mediator of the inexpressible is the work of art.