64 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes (FAMOUS)

Top 17 Most Famous Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes (BEST)

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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

Correction does much, but encouragement does more. Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower. — Correction does much, but **encouragement** does more. Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.

The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it. — The person born with a **talent** they are meant to use will find their greatest **happiness** in using it.

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. — You can easily judge the **character** of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.

Everybody wants to be somebody; nobody wants to grow.

We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases. — We know accurately only when we know little, with **knowledge** doubt increases.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time. — Many people take no care of their **money** till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their **time**.

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

Courage is the commitment to begin without any guarantee of success. — **Courage** is the **commitment** to begin without any guarantee of **success**.

To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking. — To think is easy. To **act** is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.

Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.

First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of truth. — First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of **truth**.

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men. — **Dream** no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.

17 Inspirational Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes (LOVE)

Love does not dominate; it cultivates. — **Love** does not dominate; it cultivates.

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

One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. — He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds **peace** in his home.

A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.

Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is.

“The human race is a monotonous affair. Most people spend the greatest part of their time working in order to live, and what little freedom remains so fills them with fear that they seek out any and every means to be rid of it.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance. — In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on **perseverance**.

Instruction does much, but encouragement everything. — Instruction does much, but **encouragement** everything.

Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must. — Enjoy when you can, and **endure** when you must.

Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes. — Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for **changes**.

We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden. — We must always **change**, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.

If you've never eaten while crying you don't know what life tastes like. — If you’ve never eaten while crying you don’t know what life tastes like.

There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they laugh at. — There is nothing in which people more betray their **character** than in what they laugh at.

Everything that liberates our mind without at the same time imparting self-control is pernicious.

Behaviour is a mirror in which everyone displays his own image.

30 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes About Life and Knowledge (PONDER)

The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.

Life teaches us to be less harsh with ourselves and with others.

None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.

By seeking and blundering we learn. — By seeking and blundering we **learn**.

Everything that happens to us leaves some trace behind it, and everything insensibly contributes to make us what we are.

You ask which form of government is the best? Whichever teaches us to govern ourselves.

There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action. — There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in **action**.

If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.

Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.

All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own. — All the **knowledge** I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own.

We do not have to visit a madhouse to find disordered minds; our planet is the mental institution of the universe.

A person hears only what they understand.

I have possessed that heart, that noble soul, in whose presence I seemed to be more than I really was, because I was all that I could be.

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. — **Kindness** is the golden chain by which society is bound together.

I can tell you, honest friend, what to believe believe life; it teaches better that book or orator. — I can tell you, honest friend, what to believe: believe life; it teaches better that book or orator.

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. — I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the **decisive** element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

Everything looks easy that is practiced to perfection.

One must be something in order to do something.

The coward only threatens when he is safe.

There is strong shadow where there is much light.

There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity.

If I love you, what business is it of yours? — If I **love** you, what business is it of yours?

I love those who yearn for the impossible.

Tell me with whom you associate, and I will tell you who you are.

Always hold fast to the present. Every situation, indeed every moment, is of infinite value, for it is the representative of a whole eternity.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Short Biography

Born on 28 August 1749 in Frankfurt, Germany, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a writer and German literary figure.

He was educated by tutors until the age of 16, and throughout his childhood he had become interested in literature.

From 1765-1768 he studied law at Leipzig University. During his time at university, he continued to write, and in 1770 he released ‘Annette’ a collection of poems, anonymously.

In August 1771, Goethe earned the academic degree of Licentiate, after which he established a small legal practice.

Due to his hatreted for the practice of law, he had mismanaged his first few cases as a lawyer, decided to quit, and returned to writing.

In 1774 he published his first book, The Sorrows of Young Werther, which would garner him worldwide fame.

Goethe also wrote a two-part play entitled ‘Faust’, a story about a man who sells his soul to the devil. Faust is believed to be one of the greatest works of German literature.

Further Reading:

Five Fascinating Facts About Goethe – Interesting Literature
Life Lessons from Goethe – The New Yorker
Goethe on the Psychology of Color and Emotion – Brain Pickings

Here are the best Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes so you can go against conventional wisdom and follow your heart to achieve happiness.

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Top 17 Most Famous Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes (BEST)

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30 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes About Life and Knowledge (PONDER)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Short Biography

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