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The most foolish of all errors is for clever young men to believe that they forfeit their originality in recognizing a truth which has already been recognized by others.

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
Errors
Already
Others
Forfeit
Truth
Originality
Young
Recognizing
Believe
Recognized
Men
Clever
Foolish

More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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One should not wish anyone disagreeable conditions of life but for him who is involved in them by chance, they are touchstones of characters and of the most decisive value to man.
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A vi'let on the meadow grew, That no one saw, that no one knew, It was a modest flower. A shepherdess pass'd by that way-- Light footed, pretty and so gay That way she came, Softly warbling forth her lay.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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What dazzles, for the moment spends its spirit Whats genuine, shall posterity inherit.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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It is as certain as it is strange that truth and error come from one and the same source. Thus it is that we are often not at liberty to do violence to error, because at the same time we do violence to truth.
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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Whenever I hear people talking about liberal ideas, I am always astounded that men should love to fool themselves with empty sounds. An idea should never be liberal it must be vigorous, positive, and without loose ends so that it may fulfill its divine mission and be productive.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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One man's word is no man's word we should quietly hear both sides.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Nothing is true, but that which is simple.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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If we meet someone who owes us a debt of gratitude, we remember the fact at once. How often we can meet someone to whom we owe a debt of gratitude without thinking about it at all!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Noble be man, Helpful and good! For that alone Sets him apart From every other creature On earth.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Most man only care for science so far as they get a living by it, and that they worship even error when it affords them a subsistence.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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One spares old people just as one spares children.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Time itself is an element.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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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
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The mediator of the inexpressible is the work of art.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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One alone does not help, but rather he who unites with many at the right moment.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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A rainbow which lasts for a quarter of an hour is looked at no longer.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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I have found a paper of mine among some others in which I call architecture 'petrified music.' Really there is something in this the tone of mind produced by architecture approaches the effect of music.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe