Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schillerwas a German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life, Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with the already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth10 November 1759
CountryGermany
The voice of our age seems by no means favorable to art, at all events to that kind of art to which my inquiry is directed. The course of events has given a direction to the genius of the time that threatens to remove it continually further from the ideal of art. For art has to leave reality, it has to raise itself bodily above necessity and neediness; for art is the daughter of freedom, and it requires its prescriptions and rules to be furnished by the necessity of spirits and not by that of matter.
A sublime soul can rise to all kinds of greatness, but by an effort; it can tear itself from all bondage, to all that limits and constrains it, but only by strength of will. Consequently the sublime soul is only free by broken efforts.
It is well for a man when he has learned to endure what he cannot change, and to give up with dignity what he cannot retain.
The victor is often vanquished by his own success.
Joy all creatures drink At nature's bosoms...
Forgiveness is the finding again of a lost possession.
To know thyself--in others self-concern; Would'st thou know others? read thyself--and learn!
For the world is only governed by self-interest.
Illusion is brief, but repentance is long.
There are occasions when the general belief of the people, even though it be groundless, works its effect as sure as truth itself.
Sorrows must die with the joys they outnumber.
Rigor pushed too far is sure to miss its aim, however good, as the bow snaps that is bent too stiffly.
Have hope. Though clouds environs now, And gladness hides her face in scorn, Put thou the shadow from thy brow - No night but hath its morn.
Genuine morality is preserved only in the school of adversity; a state of continuous prosperity may easily prove a quick sand to virtue