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Everyone only hears what he understands.

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
Hears
Understands
Everyone

More quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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He who wishes to exert a useful influence must be careful to insult nothing. Let him not be troubled by what seems absurd, but concentrate his energies to the creation of what is good. He must not demolish, but build. He must raise temples where mankind may come and partake of the purest pleasure.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The most happy man is he who knows how to bring into relation the end and beginning of his life.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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I am certain that I have been here as I am now a thousand times before, and I hope to return a thousand times.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The history of knowledge is a great fugue in which the voices of the nations one after the other emerge.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Certain flaws are necessary for the whole. It would seem strange if old friends lacked certain quirks.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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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
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Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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What sort of faults may we retain, nay, even cherish in ourselves? Those faults which are rather pleasant than offensive to others.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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When ideas fail, words come in very handy.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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This is the highest wisdom that I own freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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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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He who does not think much of himself is much more esteemed than he imagines.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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One can stand anything except a succession of ordinary days
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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So dear night the half of life is, And the fairest half indeed.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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All professional men are handicapped by not being allowed to ignore things which are useless.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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It is commonly the personal character of a writer which gives him his public significance. It is not imparted by his genius. Napoleon said of Corneille, Were he living I would make him a king but he did not read him. He read Racine, yet he said nothing of the kind of Racine.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Thou must (in commanding and winning, or serving and losing, suffering or triumphing) be either anvil or hammer.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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So long as you live and work, you will be misunderstood to that you must resign yourself once and for all. Be silent!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The light is there, and colors surround us. However, if there were no light nor colors in our own eye, we wouldn't perceive such things outside of us.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe