Quote

The art of governing is a great metier, requiring the whole man, and it is therefore not well for a ruler to have too strong tendencies for other affairs.

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
Strong
Requiring
Art
Ruler
Wells
Governing
Well
Rulers
Whole
Affairs
Great
Tendencies
Men
Affair
Therefore
Metier

More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Image
To have more, you must first be more.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
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
Image
I come more and more to the conclusion that one must take the side of the minority which is always the more intelligent one.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Why look for conspiracy when stupidity can explain so much
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Like the star that shines afar, Without haste and without rest, Let each one wheel with steady sway Round the task that rules the day, And do their best.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Humor is one of the elements of genius--admirable as an adjunct but as soon as it becomes dominant, only a surrogate for genius.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Man, be he who he may, experiences a last piece of good fortune and a last day. [Ger., Der Mensch erfahrt, er sei auch wer er mag, Ein letztes Gluck und einen letzten Tag.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Life seems so vulgar, so easily content with the commonplace things of every day, and yet it always nurses and cherishes certain higher claims in secret, and looks about for the means of satisfying them.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves otherwise, we harden.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
The person of analytic or critical intellect finds something ridiculous in everything. The person of synthetic or constructive intellect, in almost nothing.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Money lost, something lost. Honor lost, much lost. Courage lost, everything lost-better you were never born
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Excellence is rarely found, more rarely valued.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Whatever you cannot understand, you cannot possess.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Properly speaking, such work is never finished one must declare it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done one's best.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Each has his own happiness in his hands, as the artist handles the rude clay he seeks to reshape it into a figure yet it is the same with this art as with all others: only the capacity for it is innate the art itself must be learned and painstakingly practiced.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Humans fear reason, but they ought to fear stupidity- for reason can be hard, but stupidity can be fatal.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Who can think wise or stupid things at all that were not thought already in the past.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Image
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe