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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

87 quotes

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) was a German writer, poet, and polymath widely regarded as the greatest figure in German literature. His masterwork *Faust* is one of the most important works of European literature. Goethe's influence extended beyond writing into science, philosophy, and visual arts.

“Where is the man who has the strength to be true, and to show himself as he is?”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Strength

All Quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do, that makes life blessed.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Life

“If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

God

“An unused life is an early death.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Death

“We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Knowledge

“It is the strange fate of man, that even in the greatest of evils the fear of the worst continues to haunt him.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Fear

“Nature knows no pause in progress and development, and attaches her curse on all inaction.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Nature

“Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Dreams

“Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Men

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

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Men

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

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Time

“To rule is easy, to govern difficult.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Government

“Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws, which otherwise would have been hidden from us forever.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Beauty

“Personality is everything in art and poetry.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Art

“Science arose from poetry... when times change the two can meet again on a higher level as friends.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Change

“To witness two lovers is a spectacle for the gods.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Love

“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

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

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Society

“Nothing is more fearful than imagination without taste.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Imagination

“It is after all the greatest art to limit and isolate oneself.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Art

“First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of truth.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Love