Basic characteristics of an individual organism: to divide, to unite, to merge into the universal, to abide in the particular, to transform itself, to define itself, and as living things tend to appear under a thousand conditions, to arise and vanish, to solidify and melt, to freeze and flow, to expand and contract. Since these effects occur together, any or all may occur at the same moment.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheOne needs only to get old to become milder; I don't see anyone make a mistake I hadn't also made.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheIn the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm... in the real world all rests on perseverance.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheNature does not suffer her veil to be taken from her, and what she does not choose to reveal to the spirit, thou wilt not wrest from her by levers and screws.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheEverything which is properly business we must keep carefully separate from life. Business requires earnestness and method; life must have a freed handling.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe