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Reason can never be popular. Passions and feelings may become popular, but reason will always remain the sole property of a few eminent individuals.

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
Individual
Popularity
Feelings
Sole
Become
Passions
May
Popular
Reason
Individuals
Always
Remain
Never
Property
Passion
Eminent

More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Individuality of expression is the beginning and end of all art.
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Nature! We are surrounded by her and locked in her clasp: powerless to leave her, and powerless to come closer to her. Unasked and unwarned she takes us up into the whirl of her dance, and hurries on with us till we are weary and fall from her arms.
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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
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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
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The history of a man is in his character.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Give shape, artist! don't talk! Your poem be but a breath.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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There is not a single outward mark of courtesy that does not have a deep moral basis.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The world of reason is to be regarded as a great and immortal being, who ceaselessly works out what is necessary, and so makes himself lord also over what is accidental.
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Let us live in as small a circle as we will, we are either debtors or creditors before we have had time to look around.
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Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.
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The day of fortune is like a harvest day, We must be busy when the corn is ripe. [Ger., Ein tag der Gunst ist wie ein Tag der Ernte, Man muss geschaftig sein sobald sie reift.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The people rate strength before everything.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The eternal female draws us onward.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The person who in shaky times also wavers only increases the evil, but the person of firm decision fashions the universe.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Conscience is the virtue of the observers not the agents of action
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The passions are like those demons with which Afrasahiab sailed down the Orus. Our only safety consists in keeping them asleep. If they we are lost.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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It is bad governments, not bad people, who cause revolutions.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Rest not Life is sweeping by go and dare before you die. Something mighty and sublime, leave behind to conquer time.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The formation of one's character ought to be everyone's chief aim.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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We are the slaves of objects around us, and appear little or important according as these contract or give us room to expand.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe