Quote

Art is long, life short, judgment difficult, opportunity transient. To act is easy, to think is hard to act according to our thought is troublesome. Every beginning is cheerful: the threshold is the place of expectation.

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
Life
Art
According
Place
Expectations
Thought
Judgment
Hard
Beginning
Troublesome
Every
Short
Transient
Long
Opportunity
Threshold
Think
Difficult
Expectation
Thinking
Easy
Cheerful

More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Alas, I have studied philosophy, the law as well as medicine, and to my sorrow, theology studied them well with ardent zeal, yet here I am, a wretched fool, no wiser than I was before.
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If you want to make life easy, make it hard.
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Do not give in too much to feelings. A overly sensitive heart is an unhappy possession on this shaky earth.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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If there is confusion in your head and in your heart, what more do you want! A man who no longer loves and no longer errs should have himself buried straight away.
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It used to happen, and still happens, to me to take no pleasure in a work of art at the first sight of it, because it is too much for me but if I suspect any merit in it, I try to get at it and then I never fail to make the most gratifying discoveries--to find new qualities in the work itself and new faculties in myself.
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The century is advanced, but every individual begins afresh.
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All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green.
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The flowers of life are but illusions. How many fade away and leave no trace.
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I have found among my papers a sheet . . . in which I call architecture frozen music.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Everything which is properly business we must keep carefully separate from life. Business requires earnestness and method life must have a freed handling.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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To witness two lovers is a spectacle for the gods.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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As a man is, so is his God therefore God was so often an object of mockery. [Ger., Wie einer ist, so ist sein Gott, Darum ward Gott so oft zu Spott.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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When we treat man as he is, we make him worse than he is when we treat him as if he already were what he potentially could be, we make him what he should be.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The bed of flowers Loosens amain, The beauteous snowdrops Droop o'er the plain. The crocus opens Its glowing bud, Like emeralds others, Others, like blood. With saucy gesture Primroses flare, And roguish violets, Hidden with care And whatsoever There stirs and strives, The Spring's contented, If works and thrives.
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We are never deceived we deceive ourselves.
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I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wants.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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One always has time enough, if one will apply it well.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Know'st thou yesterday, its aim and reason? Work'st thou will today for worthier things? Then calmly wait the morrow's hidden season, And fear thou not, what hap soe'er it brings
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Blood is a very special juice.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe