Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
206 quotations
Great endowments often announce themselves in youth in the form of singularity and awkwardness.
Whatever you cannot understand, you cannot possess.
The man of understanding finds everything laughable.
No one should be rich except those who understand it.
The wealth that cannot be administered is a burden.
Those that are firm in their will mold the world to themselves.
He who is firm in will molds the world to himself.
Who is the wisest man? He who neither knows or wishes for anything else than what happens.
Wisdom is found only in truth.
We are never further from what we wish than when we believe that we have what we wished for.
The Woman-Soul leadeth us upward and on!
Be generous with kindly words, especially about those who are absent.
Every spoken word arouses our self-will.
When ideas fail, words come in very handy.
The world remains ever the same.
If any man wishes to write a clear style, let him first be clear in his thoughts.
Every author in some degree portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.
He who does not expect a million readers should not write a line.
The people who are absent are the ideal; those who are present seem to be quite commonplace.
If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.
Common sense is the genius of humanity.
No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.
No wise combatant underestimates their antagonist.
Where there is much light, the shadow is deep.
Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.