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.

Hypotheses are the scaffolds which are erected in front of a building and removedd when the building is completed. They are indispensable to the worker; but the worker must not mistake the scaffolding for the building.

A noble man is led by woman's gentle words.

He is dead in this world who has no belief in another.

In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply.

What is fruitful alone is true.

How many kings are governed by their ministers, how many ministers by their secretaries? Who, in such cases, is really the chief?