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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes - Page 63

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Since I have heard often enough that everyone in the end has his own religion, nothing seemed more natural to me than to fashion my own.

Since I have heard often enough that everyone in the end has his own religion, nothing seemed more natural to me than to fashion my own.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Fashion, Religion, Enough
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1963). “Goethe's world view: presented in his reflections and maxims”

As for solitude, I cannot understand how certain people seek to lay claim to intellectual stature, nobility of soul and strength of character, yet have not the slightest feeling for seclusion; for solitude, I maintain, when joined with a quiet contemplation of nature, a serene and conscious faith in creation and the Creator, and a few vexations from outside is the only school for a mind of lofty endowment.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Character, School, People
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1963). “Goethe's world view: presented in his reflections and maxims”

These auspicious aspects, which the astrologers subsequently interpreted for me, may have been the causes of my preservation.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Astrology, May, Causes
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1911). “Poetry and Truth: From My Own Life”

Know'st thou the land where the lemon-trees bloom, Where the gold orange glows in the deep thicket's gloom, Where a wind ever soft from the blue heaven blows, And the groves are of laurel and myrtle and rose!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Blow, Blue, Wind
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Thomas Carlyle (1824). “Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship: A Novel”, p.229

And step by step, along the path of life, There's nothing true but Heaven.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Heaven, Path, Steps

Never let a day pass without looking at some perfect work of art, hearing some great piece of music and reading, in part, some great book.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Book, Reading

Do thine own task, and be therewith content.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Work, Tasks

Every great idea exerts, on first appearing, a tyrannical influence: Hence, the advantages it brings are turned all too soon into disadvantages.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ideas, Firsts, Influence

Everything perfect in its kind has to transcend its own kind, it must become something different and incomparable. In some notes the nightingale is still a bird; then it rises above its class and seems to suggest to every winged creature what singing is truly like.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Class, Perfect, Bird

So dear night the half of life is, And the fairest half indeed.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Night, Half, Life Is
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1873). “Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship”, p.42

Let your trouble be Light will follow dark Though the heaven falls You may hear the lark.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Attitude, Fall, Dark

Like the star that shines afar, Without haste and without rest, Let each one wheel with steady sway Round the task that rules the day, And do their best.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Stars, Work, Shining

Many young painters would never have taken their pencils in hand if they could have felt, known, and understood, early enough, what really produced a master like Raphael.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Taken, Hands
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann (2014). “Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann”, p.142, Ravenio Books

The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Beautiful, Running, Art

The misfortune in the state is, that nobody can enjoy life in peace, but that everybody must govern; and in art, that nobody will enjoy what has been produced, but that every one wants to reproduce on his own account.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Enjoy Life, Want
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann (2014). “Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann”, p.141, Ravenio Books

The summit charms us, the steps to it do not; with the heights before our eyes, we like to linger in the plain. It is only a part of art that can be taught; but the artist needs the whole. He who is only half instructed speaks much and is always wrong; who knows it wholly is content with acting and speaks seldom or late.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Eye, Acting

We learn to treasure what is above this earth; we long for revelation, which nowhere burns more purely and more beautifully than in the New Testament.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Long, Treasure, Earth

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
Kings, Character, Giving

Our hands we open of our own free will, and the good flies, which we can never recall.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Hands, Free Will, Benevolence

Blood is a juice of rarest quality. [Ger., Blut ist ein ganz beondrer Saft.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Blood, Quality, Juice

Dispel not, the happy delusions of children.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Children, Delusion

In praising or loving a child, we love and praise not that which is, but that which we hope for.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Children, Praise

We should treat children as God does us, who makes us happiest when He leaves us under the influence of innocent delusions.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Children, Childhood, Doe

What in us the women leave uncultivated, children cultivate when we retain them near us.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Children
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Thomas Carlyle, Henry Duff Traill (1824). “Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels”, p.49

A school of art or of anything else is to be looked on as a single individual, who keeps talking to himself for a hundred years, and feels an extreme satisfaction with his own circle of favorite ideas, be they ever so silly.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Art, Silly, School
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, John Stuart Blackie (1883). “The Wisdom of Goethe”, Edinburgh, W. Blackwood

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