Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann WolfgangGoethetə/; German: ; 28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on botany, anatomy, and colour; and four novels. In addition, numerous literary and scientific fragments, more than 10,000 letters, and nearly 3,000 drawings by him exist...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth28 August 1749
CountryGermany
The rainbow mirrors human aims and action. Think, and more clearly wilt thou grasp it, seeing Life is but light in many-hued reflection.
Beauty is a primeval phenomenon, which itself never makes its appearance, but the reflection of which is visible in a thousand different utterances of the creative mind, and is as various as nature herself.
How can we know ourselves? Never by reflection, but only through action. Begin at once to do your duty and immediately you will know what is inside you.
It is not given to us to grasp the truth, which is identical with the divine, directly. We perceive it only in reflection, in example and symbol, in singular and related appearances. It meets us as a kind of life which is incomprehensible to us, and yet we cannot free ourselves from the desire to comprehend it.
In the colorful reflection we have what is life.
The world sees only the reflection of merit; therefore when you come to know a really great man intimately, you may as often find him above as below his reputation.
Lord Byron is only great as a poet; as soon as he reflects he is a child.
Never by reflection, but only by doing is self- knowledge possible to one.
The phrases men are accustomed to repeat incessantly, end by becoming convictions and ossify the organs of intelligence
The philosopher must station themselves in the middle.
When a wife has a good husband it is easily seen in her face.
Why do we hear such everlasting negative talk! People all imagine they'll be giving something away if they recognize the least bit of merit.
To be loved for what one is, is the greatest exception. The great majority love in others only what they lend him, their own selves, their version of him.
Trust yourself, then you will know how to live.