Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 24

• Sceptics are yet the most credulous.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Skepticism, Sceptic

  17 Copy quote

• With little wit and ease to suit them, They whirl in narrow circling trails, Like kittens playing with their tails.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Tails, Ease, Littles

  BookCaps, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2012). “Faust in Plain and Simple English: First Part of the Tragedy: (A Modern Translation and the Original Version): BookCaps Study Guide”, p.177, BookCaps Study Guides

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• There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Family, Inspiring, Children

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• The best pleasures of this world are not quite true.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  World, Pleasure, This World

  4 Copy quote

• Ohne Hast, aber ohne Rast. - Without haste, but without rest.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Haste

  Motto

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• If you want to get pleasure out of life, you must attach value to the world.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  World, Want, Pleasure

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• Wild dreams torment me as I lie. And though a god lives in my heart, though all my power waken at his word, though he can move my every inmost part - yet nothing in the outer world is stirred. thus by existence tortured and oppressed I crave for death, I long for rest.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Dream, Lying, Moving

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, David Luke (1998). “Faust”, p.48, Oxford University Press, USA

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• The world remains ever the same.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Literature, World, Remains

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann (2014). “Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann”, p.117, Ravenio Books

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• We often feel that we lack something, and seem to see that very quality in someone else, promptly attributing all our own qualities to him too, and a kind of ideal contentment as well. And so the happy mortal is a model of complete perfection--which we have ourselves created.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Perfection, Contentment, Quality

  7 Copy quote

• Experiments are mediators between nature and idea.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Science, Technology, Ideas

  10 Copy quote

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

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Errors, Mind, Quality

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• Sin writes histories, goodness is silent.
  [Ger., Das Uebel macht eine Geschichte und das Gute keine.]

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, History, Sin

  7 Copy quote

• This being busied with thoughts of immortality is for the noble classes and especially for women with nothing to do. A solid person, though, someone who already intends to be something worthy here, and who therefore has to strive daily, has to struggle and work, gives the world to come a rest.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Struggle, Class, Giving

  4 Copy quote

• Theories are usually the over-hasty efforts of an impatient understanding that would gladly be rid of phenomena, and so puts in their place pictures, notions, nay, often mere words.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Effort, Understanding, Impatient

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2015). “Maxims and Reflections”, p.174, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  4 Copy quote

• So long as you live and work, you will be misunderstood; to that you must resign yourself once and for all. Be silent!

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Long, Understanding, Misunderstood

  10 Copy quote

• What people call the spirit of the times is mostly their own spirit in which the times mirror themselves.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Integrity, Mirrors, Hypocrisy

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

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Justice, Judging, Criminals

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• 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

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• To make converts is the natural ambition of everyone.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Ambition, Natural

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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 by a vigorous natural fulness, a profound depth of feeling, and an engaging naivete.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Profound, Perfect

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• Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an elect few.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Dream, Passion, May

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1839). “Conversations with Goethe in the Last Years of His Life”, p.276

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• 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

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• Hatred is active displeasure, envy passive. We need not wonder that envy turns to soon to hatred.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Envy, Hatred, Needs

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2015). “Maxims and Reflections”, p.78, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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• 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

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• To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts expressed That can make life a garden.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Life, Friendship, Marriage

  14 Copy quote

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