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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 24

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Unlimited activity, of whatever kind, must end in bankruptcy.

Unlimited activity, of whatever kind, must end in bankruptcy.

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

To live as one likes is plebian the noble man aspires to order and law.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Funny, Sarcastic, Men

It is always a sign of an unproductive time when it concerns itself with petty and technical aspects [in philology], and likewiseit is a sign of an unproductive person to pursue such trifles.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Aspect, Trifles, Concern

The errors of the observer come from the qualities of the human mind.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Errors, Mind, Quality

Whenever I hear people talking about liberal ideas, I am always astounded that men should love to fool themselves with empty sounds. An idea should never be liberal; it must be vigorous, positive, and without loose ends so that it may fulfill its divine mission and be productive.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Love, Men, Talking

Pain and pleasure, good and evil, come to us from unexpected sources. It is not there where we have gathered up our brightest hopes, that the dawn of happiness breaks. It is not there where we have glanced our eye with affright, that we find the deadliest gloom. What should this teach us? To bow to the great and only Source of light, and live humbly and with confiding resignation.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Pain, Eye, Light

Death is Nature's expert advice to get plenty of Life.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Interesting, Advice, Experts

What a day it is when we must envy the men in their graves.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Envy, He Man
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2013). “Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)”, p.3574, Delphi Classics

In art, the best is good enough.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Good Enough, Enough
'Italienische Reise' (1816-17) 3 March 1787

There is no crime of which I do not deem myself capable.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Crime, Capable

Why should we not recognize in the lightning, the thunder, and the storm wind, the approach of an overwhelming Power, and in the scent of flowers and the gently rustling zephyr the presence of a Being full of love?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Love, Flower, Power
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1989). “Criticisms, Reflections, and Maxims of Goethe”, Richard West

It is equally a mistake to hold one's self too high, or to rate one's self too cheap.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mistake, Self, Rate

There are situations in which hope and fear run together, in which they mutually destroy one another and lose themselves in dull indifference.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Running, Anxiety, Together
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1872). “Elective Affinities: A Novel”, p.173

The rose is wont with pride to swell, and ever seeks to rise.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Pride, Rose
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2013). “Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)”, p.2696, Delphi Classics

In the end we are all separate: our stories, no matter how similar, come to a fork and diverge. We are drawn to each other because of our similarities, but it is our differences we must learn to respect.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Respect, Differences, Stories

Legislators and revolutionaries who promise both equality and liberty are visionaries and charlatans.

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

If you treat men the way they are you never improve them. If you treat them the way you want them to be, you do.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Want, Way

Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest.

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

Oh God, how do the world and heavens confine themselves, when our hearts tremble in their own barriers!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Heart, Heaven, Religion

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiation - creation - there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ignorance, Commitment, Ideas

Of the book of books most wondrous is the tender book of love.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Love, Book, Wondrous

No one can take from us the joy of the first becoming aware of something, the so-called discovery. But if we also demand the honor, it can be utterly spoiled for us, for we are usually not the first. What does discovery mean, and who can say that he has discovered this or that? After all it's pure idiocy to brag about priority; for it's simply unconscious conceit, not to admit frankly that one is a plagiarist.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mean, Science, Discovery

The older I get the more I trust in the law according to which the rose and the lily bloom.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Nature, Law, Rose

Experiments are mediators between nature and idea.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Science, Technology, Ideas

A great scholar is seldom a great philosopher.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Philosopher, Scholar, Great Philosophers
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1889). “Early and miscellaneous letters”

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