Goethe Quotes

Life is the childhood of our immortality.

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

Live dangerously and you live right.

I know nothing more mocking than a devil that despairs.

Beware of a man of one book.

Be generous with kindly words, especially about those who are absent.

The greater the knowledge, the greater the doubt.

He who enjoys doing and enjoys what he has done is happy.

There is a courtesy of the heart; it is allied to love. From its springs the purest courtesy in the outward behavior.

So, lively brisk old fellow, don't let age get you down. White hairs or not, you can still be a lover.

Man can find no better retreat from the world than art, and man can find no stronger link with the world than art.

Misunderstandings and neglect occasion more mischief in the world than malice and wickedness.

Doubt can only be removed by action.

The greatest difficulties lie where we are not looking for them.

Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.

Chess is the touchstone of intellect.

We can always redeem the man who aspires and strives.

All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.

It is the nature of grace always to fill spaces that have been empty.

I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tighrope dancer so that no incompetent would dare step upon it.

Create, artist, do not talk.

To have more, you must first be more.

Humor is one of the elements of genius--admirable as an adjunct; but as soon as it becomes dominant, only a surrogate for genius.

If you wish to advance into the infinite, explore the finite in all directions.

What is my life if I am no longer useful to others.

Painting and tattooing the body is a return to animalism.

Science has been seriously retarded by the study of what is not worth knowing and of what is not knowable.

He who is plenteously provided for from within needs but little from without.

He only earns his freedom and his life Who takes them every day by storm.

Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting.

What you can do, or think you can, begin it.

The older we grow, the greater become the ordeals.

Every spoken word arouses our self-will.

Our senses don't deceive us: our judgment does

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.

We are our own devils; we drive ourselves out of our Edens.

No prudent antagonist thinks light of his adversaries.

Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.

In every artist there is a touch of audacity without which no talent is conceivable.

Only law can give us freedom.

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive.

Energy is the basis of everything. Every Jew, no matter how insignificant, is engaged in some decisive and immediate pursuit of a goal... It is the most perpetual people of the earth.

For the nature of a women is closely allied to art. [Ger., Denn das Naturell der Frauen Ist so nah mit Kunst verwandt.]

It seems to never occur to fools that merit and good fortune are closely united.

Nothing is worth more than this day.

Hatred is active, and envy passive dislike; there is but one step from envy to hate.

There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight.

Don't dissipate your powers; strive to concentrate them. Genius thinks it can do whatever it sees others doing, but it will surely repent of every ill-judged outlay.

Sceptics are yet the most credulous.

To a valet no man is a hero.