Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes

“Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Only by joy and sorrow does a person know anything about themselves and their destiny. They learn what to do and what to avoid.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Wisdom is found only in truth.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Common sense is the genius of humanity.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Hatred is active, and envy passive dislike; there is but one step from envy to hate.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“If your treat an individual... as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Nothing is more terrible than to see ignorance in action.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Few people have the imagination for reality.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The Christian religion, though scattered and abroad will in the end gather itself together at the foot of the cross.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The coward only threatens when he is safe.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“There is nothing in the world more shameful than establishing one's self on lies and fables.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Doubt grows with knowledge.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“It is better to be deceived by one's friends than to deceive them.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Girls we love for what they are; young men for what they promise to be.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“He who possesses art and science has religion; he who does not possess them, needs religion.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“A correct answer is like an affectionate kiss.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe