Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Find the best quotes, maxims and aphorisms of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Biography : German writer and statesman.
Born: 1749 - Died: 1832
Period:
19th century
18th century
Place of birth: Germany
Germany

Germany

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Quotes

He who does not know any foreign languages does not know anything about his own.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

Language

Flowers are the beautiful words and hieroglyphics of Nature, by which she indicates how much she loves us.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

Talent is shaped in tranquility;
Character in the stream of life.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

Oh, that simplicity and innocence never recognise themselves and their sacred value!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust: A Tragedy /

Everything that happens is a symbol.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

symbol

If you see a great master, you will always find that he used what was good in his predecessors, and that it was this which made him great.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

The mood which emanates from architecture comes close to the effect of music.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

Whoever wants to deceive people must first of all make absurdity plausible.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Maxims and Reflections /

absurd

The dignity of art appears perhaps most eminently in music, because in music there is no material factor to be discounted. Music is all form and figure, exalting and ennobling everything it expresses.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Maxims and Reflections /

Everything clever has already been thought; we must only try to think it again.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Maxims and Reflections /

to think

The first and last thing required of genius is love of truth.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Maxims and Reflections /

Formation, transformation, The eternal mind's eternal recreation.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust, Part Two /

The greatest difficulties lie where we are not looking for them.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years /

difficulty

Never is done tomorrow what is not done today
And one should let no day slip by.
With resolution seize the possible straightway
By forelock and with quick, courageous trust;
Then holding fast you will not let it further fly
And you will labour on because you must.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust: A Tragedy /

Let there be truth between us.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Iphigenia in Tauris /

truth

The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man almost nothing.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Maxims and Reflections /

Oh, how I am tired of the struggle!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Wanderer's Nightsong /

With each heavy storm of rain
⁠Change comes o'er thy valley fair;
Once, alas! but not again
⁠Can the same stream hold thee e'er.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Dauer im Wechsel /

change

You can! Just will it!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust: A Tragedy /

will

Care is taken that trees do not grow into the sky.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

Ah, who brings the happy moments,
Glorious days of sweet first love;
Who can bring back a single hour
Of that blessed time again.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

Only do not look for anything behind the phenomena; they themselves are the teaching.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

Everything in the world depends on bright ideas and firm decisions.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

If a man spreads my failings abroad, he is my master, even though he were my servant.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Maxims and Reflections /

He who plays with life
Never gets ahead.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

life

Nothing is worse than active ignorance.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /

ignorance

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.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

time

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Personality is everything in art and poetry.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What is uttered from the heart alone, Will win the hearts of others to your own.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

heart

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