A good man, through obscurest ...

A good man, through obscurest aspirations
Has still an instinct of the one true way.
[Ger., Ein guter Mensch, in seinem dunkeln Drange,
Ist sich des rechten Weges sohl bewusst.]

He who moves not forward goes ...

He who moves not forward goes backward!
A capital saying!

A fiery chariot, borne on buoy...

A fiery chariot, borne on buoyant pinions,
Sweeps near me now! I soon shall ready be
To pierce the ther's high, unknown dominions,
To reach new spheres of pure activity!

The first and last thing requi...

The first and last thing required of genius is the love of truth.
[Ger., Das erste und letzte, was vom Genie gefordert wird, ist
Wahreits-Liebe.]

The sagacious reader who is ca...

The sagacious reader who is capable of reading between these
lines what does not stand written in them, but is nevertheless
implied, will be able to form some conception.

What they're accustomed to is ...

What they're accustomed to is no great matter,
But then, alas! they've read an awful deal.
[Ger., Zwar sind sie an das Beste nicht gewohnt,
Allein sie haben schrecklich viel gelesen.]

Whoever gives himself up to so...

Whoever gives himself up to solitude,
Ah! he is soon alone.
[Ger., Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergiebt,
Ach! der ist bald allein.]

I wish the crowd to feel itsel...

I wish the crowd to feel itself well treated,
Especially since it lives and lets me live.
[Ger., Ich wunschte sehr, der Menge zu behagen,
Besonders weil sie lebt und leben lasst.]

He who serves the public is a ...

He who serves the public is a poor animal; he worries himself to
death and no one thanks him for it.
[Ger., Wer dem Publicum dient, ist ein armes Thier;
Er qualt sich ab, niemand bedankt sich dafur.]

When I err every one can see i...

When I err every one can see it, but not when I lie.
[Ger., Wenn ich irre kann es jeder bemerken; wenn ich luge,
nicht.]

The mortal race is far too wea...

The mortal race is far too weak not to grow dizzy on unwonted
brights.
[Ger., Das sterbliche Geschlecht ist viel zu schwach
In ungewohnter Hohe nicht zu schwindeln.]

Properly speaking, such work i...

Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare
it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done
one's best.
[Ger., So eine Arbeit wird eigentlich nie fertig; man muss sie
fur fertig erklaren, wenn man nach Zeit und Umstand das
Moglichste getan hat.]

You'll never attain it unless ...

You'll never attain it unless you know the feeling.
[Ger., Wenn ihr's nicht fuhlt ihr werdet's nicht erjagen.]

The church alone beyond all qu...

The church alone beyond all question
Has for ill-gotten goods the right digestion.
[Ger., Die Kirch' allein, meine lieben Frauen,
Kann ungerechtes Gut verdauen.]

Yes! to this thought I hold w...

Yes! to this thought I hold with firm persistence;
The last result of wisdom stamps it true;
He only earns his freedom and existence
Who daily conquers them anew.

To a valet no man is a hero.

To a valet no man is a hero.
[Ger., Es gibt fur den Kammerdiener keiner Helden.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 03.03.2018 03:03:03 2265 quotes

It is the fortunate who should...

It is the fortunate who should extol fortune.
[Ger., Das Gluck erhebe billig der Begluckte.]

The day of fortune is like a h...

The day of fortune is like a harvest day,
We must be busy when the corn is ripe.
[Ger., Ein tag der Gunst ist wie ein Tag der Ernte,
Man muss geschaftig sein sobald sie reift.]

Fortune rarely accompanies any...

Fortune rarely accompanies anyone to the door.

Yet he who grasps the moment's...

Yet he who grasps the moment's gift,
He is the proper man.
[Ger., Der den Augenblick ergreift,
Das ist der rechte Mann.]