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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 11

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Mere curiosity adds wings to every step.

Mere curiosity adds wings to every step.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Wings, Curiosity, Add

A noble person attracts noble people, and knows how to hold on to them.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
People, Noble, Nobility
"Torquato Tasso". Play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Act 1, Scene 1, 1790.

To measure up to all that is demanded of him, a man must overestimate his capacities

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men, Capacity, Overestimate

Each ten years of a man's life has its own fortunes, its own hopes, its own desires.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Birthday, Men, Years
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2013). “Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)”, p.817, Delphi Classics

The coward only threatens when he is safe.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Coward, Literature, Safe
"Torquato Tasso". II. 3. 207, 1790.

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

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Understanding, Half, Wells

With the growth of knowledge our ideas must from time to time be organized afresh. The change takes place usually in accordance with new maxims as they arise, but it always remains provisional.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Knowledge, Ideas, Growth
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1906). “The Maxims and Reflections of 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, Science, Connections
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann (2014). “Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann”, p.162, Ravenio Books

Idea and experience will never coincide in the center; only through art and action are they united.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Ideas, Experience

For a brave man deserves a well-endowed girl.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Girl, Men, Brave
"Hermann and Dorothea". Poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, III. 19, October 1797.

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
Truth, Lying, Errors

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

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Humor, Genius, Elements
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, John Stuart Blackie (1883). “The Wisdom of Goethe”, Edinburgh, W. Blackwood

The shudder of awe is humanity's highest faculty, Even though this world is forever altering its values.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Forever, Humanity, World

One that does not think to highly of himself is more than he thinks.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Humility, Thinking, Doe

Nature is the living, visible garment of God.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Nature, Garments, Visible
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1882). “Faust, the First Part: The Text, with English Notes, Essays, and Verse Translations by E. J. Turner ... and E. D. A. Morshead ...”

Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Inspirational, Mean, Adversity

Boldness has power, magic and genius in it.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Magic, Genius, Boldness

One can be instructed in society, one is inspired only in solitude.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Loneliness, Inspiration, Being Alone

All poetry is supposed to be instructive but in an unnoticeable manner; it is supposed to make us aware of what it would be valuable to instruct ourselves in; we must deduce the lesson on our own, just as with life.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Would Be, Lessons, Valuable
Letter to Carl Friedrich Zelter, November 26, 1825.

The really unhappy person is the one who leaves undone what they can do, and starts doing what they don't understand; no wonder they come to grief.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Strength, Grief, Unhappy Person

Love of truth shows itself in this, that a man knows how to find and value the good in everything.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Truth, Men, Shows
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2013). “Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)”, p.3515, Delphi Classics

We're only really thinking when we can't think out fully what we are really thinking about!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Thinking

There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on how one looks at it.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Views, Insignificant Things, Literature
"Goethe's World View: Presented in His Reflections and Maxims".

Our passions are true phoenixes; as the old burn out the new straight rise up from the ashes.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Passion, Phoenix, Ashes
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2013). “Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)”, p.761, Delphi Classics

By nature we have no defect that could not become a strength, no strength that could not become a defect.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Strength, Nature, Defects
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1963). “Goethe's world view: presented in his reflections and maxims”

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