The true poet is called to take in the splendor of the world and for that reason will always be inclined to praise rather than tofind fault.

A person is never happy till their vague strivings has itself marked out its proper limitations.

When you take a man as he is, you make him worse. When you take a man as he can be, you make him better.

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.

One does not get to know that one exists until one rediscovers oneself in others.

Too rigid scruples are concealed pride.

In every artist there is a touch of audacity without which no talent is conceivable.