Share
×
Inspirational Quotes
Authors
Professions
Topics
Tags
Quote
If we take people only as they are, then we make them worse if we treat them as if they were what they should be, then we bring them to where they can be brought.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Share
Change background
T
T
T
Change font
Original
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
Education
Take
Make
People
Treat
Treats
Brought
Worse
Bring
More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
It is a maxim of wise government to treat people not as they should be but as they actually are.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A wife is a gift bestowed upon a man to reconcile him to the loss of paradise.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Our modern wars make many unhappy while they last and none happy when they are over.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The works of Lavoisier and his associates operated upon many of us at that time like the Sun's rising after a night of moonshine: but Chemistry is now betrothed to the Mathematics, and is in consequence grown somewhat shy of her former admirers.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Thank God when He lays a burden on thee, and thank Him when He takes it off.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A life without love, without the presence of the beloved, is nothing but a mere magic-lantern show. We draw out slide after slide, swiftly tiring of each, and pushing it back to make haste for the next.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Truth is a torch, but a terrific one therefore we all try to reach it with closed eyes, lest we should be scorched.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The eternal feminine doth draw us upward. [Ger., Das Ewig-Weibliche zieht uns hinan.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Culture which smooth the whole world licks, Also unto the devil sticks.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
If society gives up the right to impose the death penalty, then self-help will appear again and personal vendettas will be around the corner.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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
Painting predicates what man wants to see, and what man ought to see, not what he ordinarily sees.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Energy will do anything that can be done in this world.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The most damaging prejudice consists of banning any kind of investigation of nature.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Nothing is worse than active ignorance.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Only law can give us freedom.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
No prudent antagonist thinks light of his adversaries.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Nothing is more terrible than to see ignorance in action.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
He loves not who does not see the faults of the beloved as virtues.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe