Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — Wise Quotes

164 quotes · Poet, Playwright, Novelist

Page 4 of 14

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes

All Philosophical Wise Creative Love Spiritual 164 quotes · page 4 of 14

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Poet, Playwright, Novelist

Wise

“What government is the best? That which teaches us to govern ourselves. [Ger., Welche Regierung die beste sei? Diejenige die uns lehrt uns selbst zu regieren.]”

Government Dies Teach

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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Poet, Playwright, Novelist

Wise

“A flippant, frivolous man may ridicule others, may controvert them, scorn them; but he who has any respect for himself seems to have renounced the right of thinking meanly of others.”

Thinking Men Respect

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Wise

“Common sense is the genius of humanity.”

Humanity Meaningful

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Wise

“Wisdom is only found in truth. [Ger., Die Weisheit ist nur in der Wahrheit.]”

Wisdom Dies

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Wise

“To understand one thing well is better than understanding many things by halves.”

Understanding Wells Half

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Wise

“A great scholar is seldom a great philosopher.”

Philosopher Scholar

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Wise

“The formation of one's character ought to be everyone's chief aim.”

Character Aim

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Wise

“It matters little whether a man be mathematically or philologically or artistically cultivated, so he be but cultivated.”

Men Littles Matter

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Wise

“Stones are mute teachers; they silence the observer, and the most valuable lesson we learn from them we cannot communicate.”

Teacher Silence Lessons

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Wise

“By nature we have no defect that could not become a strength, no strength that could not become a defect.”

Nature Strength Defects

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Wise

“No two men see the world exactly alike, and different temperaments will apply in different ways a principle that they both acknowledge. The same man will, indeed, often see and judge the same things differently on different occasions: early convictions must give way to more mature ones. Nevertheless, may not the opinions that a man holds and expresses withstand all trials, if he only remains true to himself and others?”

Men Giving Two

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Wise

“There are but few who have ideas and are, at the same time, capable of action. Ideas enlarge but stymie, action enlivens but confines.”

Ideas Action Capable

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