Poet · German · 1749 – 1832 · 200 quotes
The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Poet · German · 1749 – 1832
There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on the point of view.
He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.
The mediator of the inexpressible is the work of art.
What is uttered from the heart alone, Will win the hearts of others to your own.
Divide and rule, the politician cries; unite and lead, is watchword of the wise.
Destiny grants us our wishes, but in its own way, in order to give us something beyond our wishes.
To the person with a firm purpose all men and things are servants.
Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.
We don't get to know people when they come to us; we must go to them to find out what they are like.
Objects in pictures should so be arranged as by their very position to tell their own story.
We are never further from what we wish than when we believe that we have what we wished for.
The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.
For just when ideas fail, a word comes in to save the situation.
We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.
Deeply earnest and thoughtful people stand on shaky footing with the public.
All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.
He who has a task to perform must know how to take sides, or he is quite unworthy of it.
Which government is the best? The one that teaches us to govern ourselves.
Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.
Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at.
The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation.
Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.
Who is the most sensible person? The one who finds what is to their own advantage in all that happens to them.
Every person above the ordinary has a certain mission that they are called to fulfill.
Talk well of the absent whenever you have the opportunity.
Those who hope for no other life are dead even for this.
When ideas fail, words come in very handy.
The man who occupies the first place seldom plays the principal part.
Character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.
We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.
One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.
Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.
One can be instructed in society, one is inspired only in solitude.
Everything in the world may be endured except continual prosperity.
If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise.
What life half gives a man, posterity gives entirely.
In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it.
It seems to never occur to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.
The formation of one's character ought to be everyone's chief aim.
It is better to be deceived by one's friends than to deceive them.
Unlike grown ups, children have little need to deceive themselves.
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them.
The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves.
Thinking is more interesting than knowing, but less interesting than looking.
I will listen to anyone's convictions, but pray keep your doubts to yourself.
He who does not think much of himself is much more esteemed than he imagines.
