Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes

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

If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts; and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul.

None are so hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free. The truth has been kept from the depth of their minds by masters who rule them with lies. They feed them on falsehoods till wrong looks like right in their eyes.

Hatred is partial, but love is still more so.

Someday perhaps the inner light will shine forth from us, and the we'll need no other light.

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.

To create something you must be something.

Truth has to be repeated constantly, because Error also is being preached all the time, and not just by a few, but by the multitude. In the Press and Encyclopaedias, in Schools and Universities, everywhere Error holds sway, feeling happy and comfortable in the knowledge of having Majority on its side.

The more one knows, the more one comprehends, the more one realizes that everything turns in a circle.

The works of Lavoisier and his associates operated upon many of us at that time like the Sun's rising after a night of moonshine: but Chemistry is now betrothed to the Mathematics, and is in consequence grown somewhat shy of her former admirers.

Those who have no hope for a future life are already dead for the present one.

Even though the world as a whole progresses, youth must always start again from the beginning, and as individuals go through the epochs of the world's culture.

All is born of water; all is sustained by water.

Is not the core of nature in the heart of man?

All truths are old, and all that we have to do is recognize and utter them anew.

The phrases that men hear or repeat continually, end by becoming convictions and ossify the organs of intelligence.

Change amuses the mind, but rarely profits.

Wood burns because it has the proper stuff in it; and a man becomes famous because he has the proper stuff in him.

Art is based on a strong sentiment of religion,--on a profound and mighty earnestness; hence it is so prone to co-operate with religion.

It seems to never occur to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.

One is never satisfied with the portrait of a person that one knows.

What I possess I would gladly retain. Change amuses the mind, yet scarcely profits.

How to please the public - that's the test, But nowadays I find I'm in a fix; I know they're not accustomed to the best, But they've all read so much they know the tricks. How can we give then something fresh and new That's serious, but entertaining too?

Belief is not the beginning of knowledge - it is the end.

Excellence is rarely found, more rarely valued.

Blood is a very special juice.

If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words.

Do people conform to the instructions of us old ones? Each thinks he must know best about himself, and thus many are lost entirely.

If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.

The aim of living is life itself.

Those that are firm in their will mold the world to themselves.

Objects in pictures should so be arranged as by their very position to tell their own story.

Experience is only half of experience.

Care is taken that trees do not grow into the sky.

Let us live, while we are alive!

On every mountain height is rest.

We often feel that we lack something, and seem to see that very quality in someone else, promptly attributing all our own qualities to him too, and a kind of ideal contentment as well. And so the happy mortal is a model of complete perfection--which we have ourselves created.

It is working within limits that the craftsman reveals himself.

The mediator of the inexpressible is the work of art.

Know'st thou yesterday, its aim and reason? Work'st thou will today for worthier things? Then calmly wait the morrow's hidden season, And fear thou not, what hap soe'er it brings

True love is love that stays constant for ever, whatever it's fortune; whether requited or scored, filled or sent empty away.

Always to distrust is an error, as well as always to trust.

It is better to be deceived by one's friends than to deceive them.

This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.

Translators can be considered as busy matchmakers who praise as extremely desirable a half-veiled beauty. They arouse an irresistible yearning for the original.

Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time.

When an idea is wanting, a word can always be found to take its place.

To have more, you must first be more.