Quote

What people call the spirit of the times is mostly their own spirit in which the times mirror themselves.

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
Mirrors
Integrity
Identity
Call
Times
Spirit
Hypocrisy
People
Mostly
Mirror

More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Image
Certain faults are necessary for the existence of the individual. We would resent it if old friends were to get rid of certain peculiarities.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
With the growth of knowledge our ideas must from time to time be organized afresh. The change takes place usually in accordance with new maxims as they arise, but it always remains provisional.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Truth has to be repeated constantly, because Error also is being preached all the time, and not just by a few, but by the multitude. In the Press and Encyclopaedias, in Schools and Universities, everywhere Error holds sway, feeling happy and comfortable in the knowledge of having Majority on its side.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The history of mankind is his character.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Gray are all the theories, But green is the tree of life.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Alas, that we should be so unwilling to listen to the still and holy yearnings of the heart! A god whispers quite softly in our breast, softly yet audibly telling us what we ought to seek and what to shun.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
He who does not expect a million readers should not write a line.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
National literature does not mean much these days now is the age of world literature, and every one must contribute to hasten thearrival of that age.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
People are always talking about originality, but what do they mean? As soon as we are born, the world begins to work upon us, and this goes on to the end.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Judge a man's character by what he finds ridiculous.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Destiny grants us our wishes, but in its own way, in order to give us something beyond our wishes.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The hardest thing to see is what is in front of your eyes.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
To create something you must be something.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
It is not always needful for truth to take a definite shape it is enough if it hovers about us like a spirit and produces harmony if it is wafted through the air like the sound of a bell, grave and kindly.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
If you want to understand poetry, You have to go to its origin, If you want to understand the poet, You have to go to the Poet's home.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
It is said, that no one is a hero to their butler. The reason is, that it requires a hero to recognize a hero. The butler, however, will probably know well how to estimate his equals.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
To me the external existence of my soul is proved from my idea of activity. If I work incessantly until my death, nature will give me another form of existence when the present can no longer sustain my spirit.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Help me to discover Thy truth, O Lord, and preserve me from those who have already found it
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible to let himself be ruled by them.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
It is not given to us to grasp the truth, which is identical with the divine, directly. We perceive it only in reflection, in example and symbol, in singular and related appearances. It meets us as a kind of life which is incomprehensible to us, and yet we cannot free ourselves from the desire to comprehend it.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe