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There is no past we can bring back by longing for it. There is only an eternal now that builds and creates out of the past something new and better.
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
Bring
Past
Back
Better
Something
Builds
Longing
Creates
Eternal
More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
In society every man is taken for what he gives himself out to be but he must give himself out to be something. Better to be slightly disagreeable than altogether insignificant.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art is long, life short, judgment difficult, opportunity transient. To act is easy, to think is hard to act according to our thought is troublesome. Every beginning is cheerful: the threshold is the place of expectation.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
It used to happen, and still happens, to me to take no pleasure in a work of art at the first sight of it, because it is too much for me but if I suspect any merit in it, I try to get at it and then I never fail to make the most gratifying discoveries--to find new qualities in the work itself and new faculties in myself.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The trouble is small, the fun is great. [Ger., Die Muh'ist klein, der Spass ist gross.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Men in a state of nature, uncivilized nations, children, have a great fondness for colors in their utmost brightness, and especially for yellow-red.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
two souls, alas, are housed within my breast, and each will wrestle for the mastery there.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Poor fool! in whose petty estimation all things are little.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
He who possesses art and science has religion he who does not possess them, needs religion.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
What a mighty spirit in a narrow bosom. [Ger., Welch' hoher Geist in einer engen Brust.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
There are situations in which hope and fear run together, in which they mutually destroy one another and lose themselves in dull indifference.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
True religion teaches us to reverence what is under us, to recognize humility and poverty, and, despite mockery and disgrace, wretchedness, suffering, and death, as things divine.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The whole art of living consists in giving up existence in order to exist.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
What is my life if I am no longer useful to others.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Daily life is more instructive than the most effective book.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
What is the path? There is no path. On into the unknown.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
People may live as much retired from the world as they please but sooner or later, before they are aware, they will find themselves debtor or creditor to somebody.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The world is for thousands a freak show the images flicker past and vanish the impressions remain flat and unconnected in the soul. Thus they are easily led by the opinions of others, are content to let their impressions be shuffled and rearranged and evaluated differently.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
To understand one thing well is better than understanding many things by halves.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Napoleon for the sake of a good name broke in pieces half the world.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
We must not take the faults of our youth with us into old age, for age brings along its own defects.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
