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If a man writes a book, let him set down only what he knows. I have guesses enough of my own.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Age: 82 †
Born: 1749
Born: August 22
Died: 1832
Died: March 22
Aphorist
Art Critic
Art Theorist
Autobiographer
Botanist
Composer
Diarist
Diplomat
Jurist
Lawyer
Librarian
Librettist
Literary
Frankfurt/Main
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Goethe
goethe
johann wolfgang von goethe
joh. wolfg. von goethe
j. w. von goethe
Writing
Men
Guesses
Sarcasm
Writes
Sarcastic
Funny
Book
Enough
More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Architecture is crystallized music.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Only that type of story deserves to be called moral that shows us that one has the power within oneself to act, out of the conviction that there is something better, even against one's own inclination.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Truth is a torch, but a terrific one therefore we all try to reach it with closed eyes, lest we should be scorched.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Do thine own task, and be therewith content.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Man... knows only when he is satisfied and when he suffers, and only his sufferings and his satisfactions instruct him concerning himself, teach him what to seek and what to avoid. For the rest, man is a confused creature he knows not whence he comes or whither he goes, he knows little of the world, and above all, he knows little of himself.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
In art, the best is good enough.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The theater has often been at variance with the pulpit they ought not to quarrel. How much is it to be wished that in both the celebration of nature and of God were intrusted to none but men of noble minds.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
God could cause us considerable embarrassment by revealing all the secrets of nature to us: we should not know what to do for sheer apathy and boredom.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This being busied with thoughts of immortality is for the noble classes and especially for women with nothing to do. A solid person, though, someone who already intends to be something worthy here, and who therefore has to strive daily, has to struggle and work, gives the world to come a rest.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Who enslaves another's manhood with weak human power alone, Lays a heavier yoke of bondage thoughtlessly upon his own.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Certain books seem to be written, not that we might learn from them, but in order that we might see how much the author knows.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
What you have inherited from your forefathers, it takes work to make it your own.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Here too it’s masquerade, I find: As everywhere, the dance of mind. I grasped a lovely masked procession, And caught things from a horror show… I’d gladly settle for a false impression, If it would last a little longer, though.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Self-knowledge comes from knowing other men.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mediocrity has no greater consolation than in the thought that genius is not immortal.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
It is not enough to have knowledge one must apply it. It is not enough to have wishes one must also accomplish it.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
My counsel is, to force nothing, and rather to trifle and sleep away all unproductive days and hours, than on such days to compose something that will afterwards give no pleasure.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Everything great and intelligent is in the minority
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I have found a paper of mine among some others in which I call architecture 'petrified music.' Really there is something in this the tone of mind produced by architecture approaches the effect of music.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
