Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 25

• The art of governing is a great metier, requiring the whole man, and it is therefore not well for a ruler to have too strong tendencies for other affairs.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Strong, Art, Men

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann, Frédéric Jacob Soret (1850). “Conversations of Goethe with Eckermann and Soret”, p.343

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• True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Art, Giving, Judging

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• It is natural to man to regard himself as the object of the creation, and to think of all things in relation to himself, and the degree in which they can serve and be useful to him.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Men, Thinking, Degrees

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1839). “Conversations with Goethe in the Last Years of His Life”, p.369

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• Once I blazed across the sky, Leaving trails of flame; I fell to earth, and here I lie - Who'll help me up again? -A Shooting Star

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Stars, Lying, Flames

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• Superstition is the poetry of life. It is inherent in man's nature; and when we think it is wholly eradicated, it takes refuge in the strangest holes and corners, whence it peeps out all at once, as soon as it can do it with safety.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Men, Thinking, Safety

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• But who will dare to speak the truth out clear? The few who anything of truth have learned, And foolishly did not keep truth concealed, Their thoughts and visions to the common herd revealed, Since time began we've crucified and burned

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Vision, Common, Speak

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, John R. Williams (1999). “Faust: The First Part of the Tragedy ; with the Unpublished Scenarios for the Walpurgis Night and the Urfaust”, p.167, Wordsworth Editions

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• Some books seem to have been written, not to teach us anything, but to let us know that the author has known something.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Book, Artistic, Teach

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2013). “Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)”, p.3567, Delphi Classics

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• Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Love, Life, Marriage

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• Chess is the touchstone of intellect.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Chess, Intellect, Touchstones

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• Music, in the best sense, does not require novelty; nay, the older it is, and the more we are accustomed to it, the greater its effect.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Music, Doe, Novelty

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

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Happiness, Giving, Friendly

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• Action has magic, grace and power in it.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Grace, Magic, Acting

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• I have always paid attention to the merits of my enemies, and found it an advantage.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Enemy, Attention, Merit

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2015). “Maxims and Reflections”, p.136, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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• Religion is not in want of art; it rests on its own majesty.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Art, Religion, Want

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

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• Nature has neither kernel Nor shell

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Shells, Statistics, Kernel

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1957). “Poems of Goethe: a sequel to Goethe, the lyrist”

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

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Crime, Capable

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• At all times it has not been the age, but individuals alone, who have worked for knowledge. It was the age which put Socrates to death by poison, the age which burnt Huss. The ages have always remained alike.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Knowledge, Age, Poison

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2015). “Maxims and Reflections”, p.93, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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• Wanted: A dog that neither barks nor bites, eats broken glass and shits diamonds.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Dog, Glasses, Broken

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• To make an epoch in the world, two conditions are manifestly essential-a good head and a great inheritance.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Greatness, Two, Essentials

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• 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

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• Napoleon for the sake of a good name broke in pieces half the world.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Power, Names, Pieces

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• All is born of water; all is sustained by water.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Nature, Travel, Water

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• We love a girl for very different qualities than understanding. We love her for her beauty, her youth, her mirth, her confidingness, her character, with its faults, caprices and God knows what other inexpressible charms; but we do not love her understanding.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Girl, Character, Understanding

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• Children, love one another, and if that is not possible-at least try to put up with one another.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Children, Trying, Love One Another

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• A mind, once formed, is never suited after,
  One yet in growth will ever grateful be.
  [Ger., Wer fertig ist, dem ist nichts recht zu machen,
  Ein Werdender wird immer dankbar sein.]

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Grateful, Growth, Mind

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