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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 23

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The style of writing required in the great world is distinguished by a free and daring grace, a careless security, a fine and sharp polish, a delicate and perfect taste; while that fitted for the people is characterized

The style of writing required in the great world is distinguished by a free and daring grace, a careless security, a fine and sharp polish, a delicate and perfect taste; while that fitted for the people is characterized by a vigorous natural fulness, a profound depth of feeling, and an engaging naivete.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Writing, Profound, Perfect

People always fancy that we must become old to become wise; but, in truth, as years advance, it is hard to keep ourselves as wise as we were.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Wise, Years, People
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann (2014). “Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann”, p.477, Ravenio Books

The old lose one of the greatest privileges of man, for they are no longer judged by their contemporaries.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Privilege, Loses

Nothing is more damaging to the truth than an old error.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Truth, Lying, Errors

Oh how sweet it is to hear one's own convictions from another's lips.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Sweet, Accomplishment, Lips

A man is really alive only when he delights in the good-will of others.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Delight, Alive
Baltasar Gracián, François Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2017). “Collected Wisdom: The Art of Worldly Wisdom; Reflections: Or, Sentences and Moral Maxims; and Maxims and Reflections”, p.292, Open Road Media

Give me the benefit of your convictions, if you have any; but keep your doubts to yourself, for I have enough of my own.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Giving, Doubt, Benefits

Nature knows no pause in progress and development, and attaches her curse on all inaction.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Nature, Progress, Development

An absent friend gives us friendly company when we are well assured of his happiness.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Happiness, Giving, Friendly

The best fortune that can fall to a man is that which corrects his defects and makes up for his failings.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mistake, Fall, Men

What chance gathers, she easily scatters. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Inspirational, Leadership, Teamwork

We are surrounded by abysses, but the greatest of all depths is in our own heart, and an irresistible leaning leads us there. Draw thyself from thyself!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Heart, Temptation, Depth

To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is to not have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Clue

Nothing is so atrocious as fancy without taste.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Fancy, Taste
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1853). “Goethe's Opinions on the World, Mankind, Literature, Science, and Art”, p.76

It's true that nothing in this world makes us so necessary to others as the affection we have for them.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
World, Affection, This World

Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Passion, Power, Vices

The beginning of faith is the beginning of fruitfulness; but the beginning of unbelief, however glittering, is empty.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Faith, Lying, Empty

He who is firm and resolute in will molds the world to himself.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Stay Strong, Mold, World

The Christian religion, though scattered and abroad will in the end gather itself together at the foot of the cross.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Christian, Feet, Together

I could never have known so well how paltry men are, and how little they care for really high aims, if I had not tested them by my scientific researches. Thus I saw that most men only care for science so far as they get a living by it, and that they worship even error when it affords them a subsistence.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Science, Men, Errors
Conversations with Goethe 15 October (1825)

We are so constituted that we believe the most incredible things; and, once they are engraved upon the memory, woe to him who would endeavor to erase them.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Memories, Believe, Atheism
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, David E. Wellbery (1988). “The Sorrows of Young Werther ; Elective Affinities ; Novella”, p.35, Princeton University Press

A judge who cannot punish, in the end associates themselves with the criminal.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Justice, Judging, Criminals

Impotent hatred is the most horrible of all emotions; one should hate nobody whom one cannot destroy.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Hate, War, Hatred

Sameness leaves us in peace but it is contradiction that makes us productive.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Contradiction, Sameness, Productivity

The world cannot do without great men, but great men are very troublesome to the world.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Greatness, Men, World
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1853). “Goethe's Opinions on the World, Mankind, Literature, Science, and Art”, p.115

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