Quote

Is this the destiny of man? Is he only happy before he has acquired his reason or after he has lost it?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Acquired
Destiny
Happy
Lost
Reason
Men

More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Image
He who is wise puts aside all claims which may dissipate his attention, and confining himself to one branch excels in that.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The present is a powerful deity. [Ger., Die Gegenwart ist eine machtige Gottin.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
All our knowledge is symbolic.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Beware of her fair hair, for she excels All women in the magic of her locks And when she winds them round a young man's neck, She will not ever set him free again.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
A person is never happy till their vague strivings has itself marked out its proper limitations.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The Woman-Soul leadeth us upward and on!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
He who wishes to exert a useful influence must be careful to insult nothing. Let him not be troubled by what seems absurd, but concentrate his energies to the creation of what is good. He must not demolish, but build. He must raise temples where mankind may come and partake of the purest pleasure.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The world remains ever the same.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Wisdom is only found in truth. [Ger., Die Weisheit ist nur in der Wahrheit.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The old lose one of the greatest privileges of man, for they are no longer judged by their contemporaries.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The trouble is small, the fun is great. [Ger., Die Muh'ist klein, der Spass ist gross.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. But I am sure that figures show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man hardly anything.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Words are good, but there is something better. The best cannot be explained by words. The spirit in which we act is the chief matter. Action can only be only understood and represented by the spirit.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
We can stand only a certain amount of unhappiness anything beyond that annihilates us or passes us by, leaving us apathethetic.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
There is no greater consolation for mediocrity than that the genius is not immortal.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Beauty and Genius must be kept afar if one would avoid becoming their slave.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
How shall we plan, that all be fresh and new-- Important matter yet attractive too? [Ger., Wie machen wir's, dass alles frisch und neu Und mit Bedeutung auch gefallig sei?]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Daily life is more instructive than the most effective book.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
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