Friedrich Schiller

I have only an office here, and no opinion.

They have founded the whole structure of their happiness on these very illusions, which ought to be combated and dissipated by the light of knowledge, and they would think they were paying too dearly for a truth which begins by robbing them of all that has value in their sight. It would be necessary that they should be already sages to love wisdom: a truth that was felt at once by him to whom philosophy owes its name.

The hat is the pride of man; for he who cannot keep his hat on before kings and emperors is no free man.

Das Weib ist nicht schwach. ich will in meinem Beisein nichts von der Schwäche des [weiblichen] Geschlechts hören.
Elisabeth, II, 3

Und bin ich strafbar, weil ich menschlich war?

"Wenn es immer nach deinem Kopf ginge, du kröchest dein Leben lang im Staub." - "Immer noch besser, als ich kröch um den Thron herum."

Lebe mit deinem Jahrhundert, aber sei nicht sein Geschöpf; leiste deinen Zeitgenossen, aber was sie bedürfen, nicht was sie loben.

His Armies, weakened by defeat and defeat, dispirited by misfortune, had unlearned - under beaten generals - that warlike impetuosity which as it is the consequence, so it is the guarentee of success.

He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times.

Dare to be wise! Energy and spirit is needed to overcome the obstacles which indolence of nature as well as cowardice of heart oppose to our instruction. It is not without significance that the old myth makes the goddess of Wisdom emerge fully armed from the head of Jupiter; for her very first function is warlike. Even in her birth she has to maintain a hard struggle with the senses, which do not want to be dragged from their sweet repose. The greater part of humanity is too much harassed and fatigued by the struggle with want, to rally itself for a new and sterner struggle with error. Content if they themselves escape the hard labor of thought, men gladly resign to others the guardianship of their ideas, and if it happens that higher needs are stirred in them, they embrace with a eager faith the formulas which State and priesthood hold in readiness for such an occasion.

The mountain cannot frighten one who was born on it.

No doubt the artist is the child of his time; but woe to him if he is also its disciple, or even its favorite.

Who reflects too much will accomplish little.

When the wine goes in, strange things come out.

What's old collapses, times change,
And new life blossoms in the ruins.