Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
~ 1749 - 1832
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) was a renowned German writer, scientist, and statesman. He is best known for his works such as "Faust," "The Sorrows of Young Werther," and "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship," which have had a lasting impact on German literature. Goethe's diverse talents and intellectual pursuits made him a key figure of the Weimar Classicism movement.
To be pleased with one's limits is a wretched state.
Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.
Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
Learn to be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not.
Everything is hard before it is easy.
Only he deserves freedom and life who daily conquers them anew.
All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, until they take root in our personal experience.
Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them.
Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same.
All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green.
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
A man is not little when he finds it difficult to cope with circumstances, but when circumstances overmaster him.
Science arose from poetry… when times change the two can meet again on a higher level as friends.
The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.
The credit of advancing science has always been due to individuals and never to the age.
Many good qualities are not sufficient to balance a single want - the want of money.
Writing is good, thinking is better. Cleverness is good, patience is better.
Music is liquid architecture; Architecture is frozen music.
One always has time enough, if one will apply it well.