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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 18

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Say what you will of fortitude, but show me the man who can patiently endure the laughter of fools when they have obtained an advantage over him. 'Tis only when their nonsense is without foundation that one can suffer

Say what you will of fortitude, but show me the man who can patiently endure the laughter of fools when they have obtained an advantage over him. 'Tis only when their nonsense is without foundation that one can suffer it without complaint.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Laughter, Men, Suffering
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2015). “The Sorrows of Young Werther: Top Classic of German”, p.36, 谷月社

All things are only transitory.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Literature, All Things, Transitory

Experience is only half of experience.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Experience, Half

The day is committed to error and floundering; success and achievement are matters of long range.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Success, Errors, Long

There is nothing new on earth / For a person who lives long and experiences much. / In my years of youthful wandering / I have seen crystallized people.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Years, Long, People

The threshold is the place of expectation.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Expectations, Threshold
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1855). “Wilhelm Meister's apprenticeship: A novel from the German. Transl. by R. Dillon Boylan. Complete in 1 vol”, p.464

Someone criticized an elderly man for wooing young women. He replied that that was the only way to rejuvenation, which was, afterall, everybody's wish.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Elderly, Wish

The day is of infinite length for him who knows how to appreciate and use it.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Appreciation, Time, Appreciate

God help us -- for art is long, and life so short.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Long, Helping

When the boy begins to understand that the visible point is preceded by an invisible point, that the shortest distance between two points is conceived as a straight line before it is ever drawn with pencil and paper...the fountain of all thought has been opened to him...the philosopher can reveal him nothing new, as a geometrician he has discovered the basis of all thought.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Distance, Boys, Two

Divide and rule, the politician cries; unite and lead, is watchword of the wise.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Wise, Wisdom, Literature
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, John Stuart Blackie (1883). “The Wisdom of Goethe”, Edinburgh, W. Blackwood

True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Giving, Judging

No two men see the world exactly alike, and different temperaments will apply in different ways a principle that they both acknowledge. The same man will, indeed, often see and judge the same things differently on different occasions: early convictions must give way to more mature ones. Nevertheless, may not the opinions that a man holds and expresses withstand all trials, if he only remains true to himself and others?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Two, Giving
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, John Gage (1980). “Goethe on Art”, p.5, Univ of California Press

I am part of the part that once was everything, Part of the darkness which gave birth to light… Mephistopheles, from Faust.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Light, Darkness, Birth

Music, in the best sense, does not require novelty; nay, the older it is, and the more we are accustomed to it, the greater its effect.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Music, Doe, Novelty

It is the fortunate who should extol fortune. [Ger., Das Gluck erhebe billig der Begluckte.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Should, Fortune, Fortunate

It is natural to man to regard himself as the object of the creation, and to think of all things in relation to himself, and the degree in which they can serve and be useful to him.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Thinking, Degrees
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1839). “Conversations with Goethe in the Last Years of His Life”, p.369

To accept good advice is but to increase one's own ability.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Inspirational, Advice, Criticism

A state of affairs which leads to daily vexation is not the right state.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Life, Happiness, Vexation

I have so much in me, and the feeling for her absorbs it all; I have so much, and without her it all comes to nothing.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Memorable, Unrequited Love, Feelings
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2000). “Selected Works: Including The Sorrows of Young Werther, Elective Affinities, Italian Journey, Faust”, Everyman's Library

How shall we plan, that all be fresh and new-- Important matter yet attractive too? [Ger., Wie machen wir's, dass alles frisch und neu Und mit Bedeutung auch gefallig sei?]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Important, Mit, Matter

No man learns to know his inmost nature by introspection, for he rates himself sometimes too low, and often too high, by his own measurement. Man knows himself only by comparing himself with other men; it is life that touches his genuine worth.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Life, Nature, Men

There are people who pay attention to the weaknesses of their friends; that is to no avail. I have always closely watched and profited from the strengths of my adversaries.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
People, Pay, Weakness

Patriotism corrupts history.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Politics
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1963). “Goethe's world view: presented in his reflections and maxims”

Only the heart without a stain knows ease.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Heart, Ease, Stains

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