Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

It is in human nature to relax, when not compelled by personal advantage or disadvantage.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Who is sure of their own motives can in confidence advance or retreat.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The effects of good music are not just because it's new; on the contrary music strikes us more the more familiar we are with it.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The unnatural, that too is natural.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Nature understands no jesting. She is always true, always serious, always severe. She is always right, and the errors are always those of man.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Nature goes her own way and all that to us seems an exception is really according to order.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

To hard necessity ones will and fancy must conform.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

No two men see the world exactly alike, and different temperaments will apply in different ways a principle that they both acknowledge. The same man will, indeed, often see and judge the same things differently on different occasions: early convictions must give way to more mature ones. Nevertheless, may not the opinions that a man holds and expresses withstand all trials, if he only remains true to himself and others?

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The right man is the one that seizes the moment.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The most original of authors are not so because they advance what is new, but more because they know how to say something, as if it had never been said before.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Our passion are the true phoenixes; when the old one is burnt out, a new one rises from its ashes.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There is no past that we can bring back by longing for it. There is only an eternally new now that builds and creates itself out of the Best as the past withdraws.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The little that is completed, vanishes from the sight of one who looks forward to what is still to do.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

If a man or woman is born ten years sooner or later, their whole aspect and performance shall be different.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

We can always redeem the man who aspires and strives.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Austere perseverance, hash and continuous... rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistible greater with time.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Oral delivery aims at persuasion and making the listener believe they are converted. Few persons are capable of being convinced; the majority allow themselves to be persuaded.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

People have a peculiar pleasure in making converts, that is, in causing others to enjoy what they enjoy, thus finding their own likeness represented and reflected back to them.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

To make converts is the natural ambition of everyone.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Secrecy has many advantages, for when you tell someone the purpose of any object right away, they often think there is nothing to it.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The philosopher must station themselves in the middle.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Objects in pictures should so be arranged as by their very position to tell their own story.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

In politics, as on the sickbed, people toss from side to side, thinking they will be more comfortable.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

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

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Every man has enough power left to carry out that of which he is convinced.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

If you treat an individual... as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

He who has a task to perform must know how to take sides, or he is quite unworthy of it.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Since Time is not a person we can overtake when he is gone, let us honor him with mirth and cheerfulness of heart while he is passing.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Nothing is worth more than this day. You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

If the mass of people hesitate to act, strike with swiftly and with boldness, the brave heart that understands and seizes opportunity can everything.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Upon the creatures we have made, we are, ourselves, at last, dependent.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Everything in the world may be endured except continual prosperity.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

A collections of anecdotes and maxims is the greatest of treasures for the man of the world, for he knows how to intersperse conversation with the former in fit places, and to recollect the latter on proper occasions.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Deeply earnest and thoughtful people stand on shaky footing with the public.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

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

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

A purpose you impart is no longer your own.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Every person above the ordinary has a certain mission that they are called to fulfill.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

To the person with a firm purpose all men and things are servants.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

If you want a wise answer, ask a reasonable question.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Anecdotes and maxims are rich treasures to the man of the world, for he knows how to introduce the former at fit place in conversation.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Everything has been thought of before, but the problem is to think of it again.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Reason can never be popular. Passions and feelings may become popular, but reason will always remain the sole property of a few eminent individuals.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

People do not mind their faults being spread out before them, but they become impatient if called on to give them up.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

By seeking and blundering we learn.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

A person can stand almost anything except a succession of ordinary days.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

People may live as much retired from the world as they like, but sooner or later they find themselves debtor or creditor to some one.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

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

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

We can offer up much in the large, but to make sacrifices in little things is what we are seldom equal to.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

A great scholar is seldom a great philosopher.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Whether a person shows themselves to be a genius in science or in writing a song, the only point is, whether the thought, the discovery, or the deed, is living and can live on.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The credit of advancing science has always been due to individuals and never to the age.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

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

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Whoever wishes to keep a secret must hide the fact that he possesses one.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

No one has ever learned fully to know themselves.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Trust yourself, then you will know how to live.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

A person places themselves on a level with the ones they praise.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Know thyself? If I knew myself I would run away.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Self-knowledge comes from knowing other men.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Self-love exaggerates our faults as well as our virtues.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Taste is only to be educated by contemplation, not of the tolerably good but of the truly excellent. I therefore show you only the best works; and when you are grounded in these, you will have a standard for the rest, which you will know how to value, without overrating them.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The senses do not deceive us, but the judgment does.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Nothing is true, but that which is simple.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There is repetition everywhere, and nothing is found only once in the world.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

To understand one thing well is better than understanding many things by halves.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

It is delivery that makes the orators success.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

I do not speak of what I cannot praise.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

I don't know a greater advantage, than to appreciate the worth of an enemy.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The people rate strength before everything.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Stupidity is without anxiety.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

On the pinnacle of success man does not stand firm long.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Superstition is the poetry of life.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Seldom in the business and transactions of ordinary life, do we find the sympathy we want.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Talent develops in quiet places, character in the full current of human life.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

A really great talent finds its happiness in execution.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

What chance gathers she easily scatters. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Thinking is more interesting than knowing, but less interesting than looking.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

All truly wise thoughts have been thoughts already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Thought expands, but paralyzes; action animates, but narrows.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Nothing is to be rated higher than the value of the day.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

We always have time enough, if we will but use it aright.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

One always has time enough, if one will apply it well.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Traveling is like gambling: it is always connected with winning and losing, and generally where it is least expected we receive, more or less than what we hoped for.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depth, where few are willing to search for it.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Whatever you cannot understand, you cannot possess.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

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

The man of understanding finds everything laughable.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

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

Some of our weakness is born in us, some of it comes through education; it is a big question as to which gives us the most trouble.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

No one should be rich except those who understand it.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The wealth that cannot be administered is a burden.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Those that are firm in their will mold the world to themselves.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

He who is firm in will molds the world to himself.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Who is the wisest man? He who neither knows or wishes for anything else than what happens.

— Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe