Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Friedrich Schiller (German Poet)

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759–1805) was a German dramatist, historian, and philosopher. One of the most influential playwrights of German literature, he is best known for his historical plays.

Born in Marbach, Württemberg, Schiller started writing plays while still a student at a military academy. His first play Die Räuber (The Robbers, 1781) caused a sensation. It featured a nobleman who withdraws from society to join a band of criminals.

Schiller then turned to historical studies and, for the next ten years, wrote two major works, The Revolt of the Netherlands (1788) and A History of the Thirty Years War (1793.) He also wrote Wallenstein (1799,) his famed trilogy of dramas based loosely on actual historical events during the Thirty Years War. It consists of Wallensteins Lager (Wallenstein’s Camp,) Die Piccolomini (The Piccolomini,) and Wallensteins Tod (Wallenstein’s Death.)

In 1785, Schiller wrote the hymn “An die Freude” (“Ode to Joy,”) which Beethoven later used as the basis for the fourth movement for the choral movement of his Ninth Symphony. Beethoven’s tune (but not Schiller’s words) was adopted as the Anthem of Europe by the Council of Europe and later by the European Union.

During the next several years, Schiller produced his most mature works, including Maria Stuart (Mary Stuart, 1800,) Die Jungfrau von Orleans (The Maid of Orleans, 1801,) and Wilhelm Tell (William Tell, 1804.) William Tell sets the legendary hero against the backdrop of the Swiss War of Independence against the Austrians. A favorite in revolutionary situations, it was most memorably produced by the German Expressionist theater producer Leopold Jessner after World War I.

Schiller also published academic essays of great consequence about the theatre, including The Stage Regarded as a Moral Institution (1784.) This manuscript helped raise the theatre to an essential element in German culture.

As a philosopher, Schiller is remembered for his influential assertion of aesthetics. He was influenced by Immanuel Kant’s idealism. Schiller’s most important philosophical works are Briefeüber die ästhetische Erziehung des Menschen (1794–95; Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Mankind, 1844) and Über naive und sentimentalische Dichtung (1795; On Naïve and Sentimental Poetry, 1861.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Friedrich Schiller

Intellect is brain force.
—Friedrich Schiller

He who reflects too much will achieve little.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Decisions

The painter is, as to the execution of his work, a mechanic; but as to his conception and spirit and design he is hardly below even the poet.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Art

The jest loses its point when he who makes it is the first to laugh.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Humor

Even the weak become strong when they are united.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Unity

Yes great people are always subject to persecution and always getting into straits.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Prejudice

Disappointments are to the soul what a thunder-storm is to the air.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Mistakes, Disappointment, Failures

No emperor has the power to dictate to the heart.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Power

Honesty prospers in every condition of life.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Honesty

Think with awe on the slow and quiet power of time.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Time

We are citizens of an age, as well as of a State; and if it is held to be unseemly, or even inadmissible, for a man to cut himself off from the customs and manners of the circle in which he lives, why should it be less of a duty, in the choice of his activity, to submit his decision to the needs and the taste of his century?
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Defects, Conformity

Power is the most persuasive rhetoric.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Power

No cause has he to say his doom is harsh, who’s made the master of his destiny.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Destiny

Youth covets; let not this covetousness seduce you.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Youth

Jealousy is the great exaggerator.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Jealousy

I have ever heard it said that spies and tale-bearers have done more mischief in this world than poisoned bowl or the assassin’s dagger.
—Friedrich Schiller

As noble Art has survived noble nature, so too she marches ahead of it, fashioning and awakening by her inspiration. Before Truth sends her triumphant light into the depths of the heart, imagination catches its rays, and the peaks of humanity will be glowing when humid night still lingers in the valleys.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Arts, Art, Artists

What the reason of the ant laboriously drags into a heap, the wind of accident will collect in one breath.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Luck, Fortune

As freely as the firmament embraces the world, or the sun pours forth impartially his beams, so mercy must encircle both friend and foe.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Forgiveness, Mercy

That nation is worthless that will not, with pleasure, venture all for its honor.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Honor

There is room in the smallest cottage for a happy loving pair.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Home

Worthless is the nation that does not gladly stake its all on its honor.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Honor

Nothing, it is true, is more common than for both Science and Art to pay homage to the spirit of the age, and for creative taste to accept the law of critical taste.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Religion

Truth exists for the wise, beauty for the feeling heart.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Beauty

Friends show me what I can do, foes teach me what I should do.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Friends and Friendship

If you have never seen beauty in a moment of suffering, you have never seen beauty at all. If you have never seen joy in a beautiful face, you have never seen joy at all.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Beauty

Will it, and set to work briskly.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Will, Will Power, Willpower

Why should I deem myself to be a chisel, when I could be the artist?
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Goals, Aspirations

It is difficult to discriminate the voice of truth from amid the clamor raised by heated partisans.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Loyalty

Time flies on restless pinions – constant never.
—Friedrich Schiller
Topics: Time

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