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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 7

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Nothing is more odious than the majority, for it consists of a few powerful leaders, a certain number of accommodating scoundrels and submissive weaklings, and a mass of men who trot after them without thinking, or

Nothing is more odious than the majority, for it consists of a few powerful leaders, a certain number of accommodating scoundrels and submissive weaklings, and a mass of men who trot after them without thinking, or knowing their own minds.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Powerful, Men, Thinking

The human mind will not be confined to any limits.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mind, Limits, Humans
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1849). “The Auto-biography of Goethe: The autobiography [etc.] The concluding books. Also Letters from Switzerland and Travels in Italy, tr. by the Rev. A. J. W. Morrison”, p.443

A great revolution is never the fault of the people, but of the government.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Government, People, Faults
"Conversations with Goethe". Book by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Johann Peter Eckermann, 1836.

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Love, Inspiring, Marriage

He is the happiest man who can see the connection between the end and the beginning of life.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Death, Men, Connections

Fools and wise men are equally harmless. It is the half-fools and half-wise that are dangerous.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Wise, Men, Half

The human race is a monotonous affair. Most people spend the greatest part of their time working in order to live, and what little freedom remains so fills them with fear that they seek out any and every means to be rid of it.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Fear, Mean, Race
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2006). “The Sorrows of Young Werther”, p.29, Penguin UK

If we examine every stage of our lives, we find that from our first breath to our last we are under the constraint of circumstances. And yet we still possess the greatest of all freedoms, the power of developing our innermost selves in harmony with the moral order of the universe, and so winning peace of heart whatever obstacles we meet.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Heart, Winning, Self

Not all that is presented to us as history has really happened; and what really happened did not actually happen the way it is presented to us; moreover, what really happened is only a small part of all that happened. Everything in history remains uncertain, the largest events as well as the smallest occurrence.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
History, Events, Way

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.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Artist, Suffering, Energy
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1949). “Truth and Fantasy from My Life”

Human life runs its course in the metamorphosis between receiving and giving.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Running, Giving, Receiving

It is not enough to take steps which may someday lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step likewise.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Life, Success, Running
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann, Frédéric Jacob Soret (1850). “Conversations of Goethe with Eckermann and Soret”, p.65

Nothing is worse than active ignorance.

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

What is hardest of all? That which seems most simple: to see with your eyes what is before your eyes.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Eye, Simple, Hardest

The rich want good wine, the poor, plenty of wine

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Wine, Want, Rich

Beware of dissipating your powers; strive constantly to concentrate them.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Strive, Concentration
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1839). “Conversations with Goethe in the Last Years of His Life”, p.117

Don't judge anyone harshly until you yourself have been through his experiences

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Judging, Has Beens

To hard necessity ones will and fancy must conform.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Literature, Fancy, Conform

To have more, you must first be more.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Military, Firsts

The ideal of beauty is simplicity and tranquility.

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

Tolerance should really be only a temporary attitude; it must lead to recognition. To tolerate means to offend.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Attitude, Mean, Tolerance

All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Love, Marriage, Being Yourself
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1949). “The Sorrows of Young Werther”

Personality is everything in art and poetry.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Artist, Personality
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1921). “Goethe's Literary Essays”

Necessity is cruel, but it is the only test of inward strength. Every fool may live according to his own likings.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Inward, May, Tests
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1853). “Goethe's Opinions on the World, Mankind, Literature, Science, and Art”, p.57

Life teaches us to be less harsh with ourselves and with others.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Life, Harsh, Teach
"Iphigenia in Tauris". Play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Act 4, Scene 4, 1786.

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