Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes
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Insofar as he makes use of his healthy senses, man himself is the best and most exact scientific instrument possible. The greatest misfortune of modern physics is that its experiments have been set apart from man, as it were, physics refuses to recognize nature in anything not shown by artificial instruments, and even uses this as a measure of its accomplishments.
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Woman is mistress of the art of completely imbittering the life of the person on whom she depends.
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Freedom consists not in refusing to recognize anything above us, but in respecting something which is above us; for by respecting it, we raise ourselves to it, and, by our very acknowledgment, prove that we bear within ourselves what is higher, and are worthy to be on a level with it.
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No one has ever learned fully to know themselves.
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What sort of God would it be, who only pushed from without.
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We are our own aptest deceiver.
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Chess is the touchstone of intellect.
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A really great talent finds its happiness in execution.
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Humor is one of the elements of genius--admirable as an adjunct; but as soon as it becomes dominant, only a surrogate for genius.
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Higher aims are in themselves more valuable, even if unfulfilled, than lower ones quite attained.
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The beginning of faith is the beginning of fruitfulness; but the beginning of unbelief, however glittering, is empty.
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The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.
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Art is in itself noble; that is why the artist has no fear of what is common. This, indeed, is already ennobled when he takes it up.
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Doubt can only be removed by action.
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He who is firm in will molds the world to himself. [Ger., Aber wer fest auf dem Sinne beharrt, der bildet die Welt sich.]
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All that is transitory is but a metaphor.
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A great artist... must be shaken by the naked truths that will not be comforted. This divine discontent, this disequilibrium, this state of inner tension is the source of artistic energy.
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Love of truth shows itself in this, that a man knows how to find and value the good in everything.
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A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.
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He who is and remains true to himself and to others has the most attractive quality of the greatest talent.
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Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.
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People may live as much retired from the world as they please; but sooner or later, before they are aware, they will find themselves debtor or creditor to somebody.
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No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.
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The wealth that cannot be administered is a burden.