Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes

One says a lot in vain, refusing;
The other mainly hears the "No."

Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live.

Zur Farbenlehre, Materialien zur Geschichte der Farbenlehre (1810), Frankfurt am Main, 1991, Seite 666.

When she sees the leaves fall, they raise no other idea in her mind than that winter is approaching.

What wise or stupid thing can man conceive
That was not thought of in ages long ago?

Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, And in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. Not in the morning alone, not only at mid-day he charmeth; Even at setting, the sun is still the same glorious planet.

Investigate what is, and not what pleases.

The artist may be well advised to keep his work to himself till it is completed, because no one can readily help him or advise him with it...but the scientist is wiser not to withhold a single finding or a single conjecture from publicity.

Zwey Seelen wohnen, ach! in meiner Brust.

Nothing is worth more than this day.

We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.

It is as certain as it is marvelous that truth and error come from one source. Therefore one often may not injure error, because at the same time one injures truth.

But who will dare to speak the truth out clear?
The few who anything of truth have learned,
And foolishly did not keep truth concealed,
Their thoughts and visions to the common herd revealed,
Since time began we've crucified and burned

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.

Nothing can be compared to the new life that the discovery of another country provides for a thoughtful person. Although I am still the same I believe to have changed to the bones.