Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes

On top of the world, or in the depths of despair.

Waste not a day in vain digression;
with resolute, courageous trust
seek every possible impression
and make it firmly your posession
you'll then work on because you must.

Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws, which otherwise would have been hidden from us forever.

He values my understanding and talents more highly than my heart, but I am proud of the latter only. It is the sole source of everything of our strength, happiness, and misery. All the knowledge I possess every one else can acquire, but my heart is exclusively my own.

A creation of importance can only be produced when its author isolates himself; it is a child of solitude.

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.

Do not give in too much to feelings. A overly sensitive heart is an unhappy possession on this shaky earth.

I wait for the morning of my tears.

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.

A really great talent finds its happiness in execution.

We usually lost today because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.

The deed is everything; the fame is nothing.

I see my discourse leaves you cold;
Dear kids, I do not take offense;
Recall: the Devil, he is old,
Grow old yourselves, and he'll make sense!

Habe nun, ach! Philosophie,
Juristerei und Medizin,
Und leider auch Theologie
Durchaus studiert, mit heißem Bemühn.
Da steh ich nun, ich armer Tor!
Und bin so klug als wie zuvor;
Heiße Magister, heiße Doktor gar
Und ziehe schon an die zehen Jahr
Herauf, herab und quer und krumm
Meine Schüler an der Nase herum-
Und sehe, daß wir nichts wissen können!
Das will mir schier das Herz verbrennen.
Zwar bin ich gescheiter als all die Laffen,
Doktoren, Magister, Schreiber und Pfaffen;
Mich plagen keine Skrupel noch Zweifel,
Fürchte mich weder vor Hölle noch Teufel-
Dafür ist mir auch alle Freud entrissen,
Bilde mir nicht ein, was Rechts zu wissen,
Bilde mir nicht ein, ich könnte was lehren,
Die Menschen zu bessern und zu bekehren.

Behaviour is a mirror in which every one displays his own image.