Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) was the greatest icon in the German literary and cultural pantheon. This master of world literature was a polymath: not only was he a poet, novelist, playwright, historian, and natural philosopher, but he also held several government positions at Weimar and made scientific discoveries.
Goethe gained early fame with his first novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (1774; The Sorrows of Young Werther.) Written as a collection of letters by the protagonist, this sentimental epistolary novel tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman engaged to another man.
Goethe also wrote hundreds of essays, many volumes of lyric poetry, and an in-depth dissertation on the physics of light and color contrasting his theories against Newton’s.
Goethe is most famous for his magnum opus Faust, published as Faust, Part One (1808) and Faust, Part Two (1832.) Goethe started writing Faust at age 23 and finished it a few months before his death six decades later. This two-part poetic drama is based on a classic German legend, which in turn is based on an actual magician who lived in northern Germany in the fifteenth century.
Goethe’s Faust tells the story of a brilliant scholar named Heinrich Faust, who is very successful yet unhappy in life. He forsakes God, makes a dangerous deal with the Devil, and exchanges his soul for unlimited power, knowledge, and worldly pleasures. Celebrated for its themes of damnation, witchcraft, sexual betrayal, and freeform philosophic contemplation, Faust is considered one of the greatest works of German literature.
Appreciation for Goethe and his works throughout Europe and America added much to the dissemination of German culture worldwide, with significant effects on scholarship, education, and philosophy, as well as literature throughout the 19th century.
In addition to his literary work, Goethe was also a geologist, botanist, anatomist, physicist, and science historian. His most notable scientific contributions include his theory of plant metamorphosis and his theory of colors.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Whether a person shows themselves to be a genius in science or in writing a song, the only point is, whether the thought, the discovery, or the deed, is living and can live on.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Science, Scientists
Correction does much, but encouragement does more. Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Hope, Punishment, Correction, Support, Encouragement
‘When we take people,’ thou wouldst say, ‘merely as they are, we make them worse; when we treat them as if they were what they should be, we improve them as far as they can be improved.’
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Respect
The greater the knowledge, the greater the doubt.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Knowledge
Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws, which otherwise would have been hidden from us forever.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Magic, Belief
It is not enough to have knowledge, one must also apply it. It is not enough to have wishes, one must also accomplish
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Accomplishment
We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: The Present, Present
To make sacrifices in big things is easy, but to make sacrifices in little things is what we are seldom capable of.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Suffering
Beware of her fair locks, for when she winds them round a young man’s neck, she will not set him free again.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Hair
He who would reproach an author for obscurity should look into his own mind to see whether it is quite clear there. In the dusk the plainest writing is illegible.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Style
What you can do, or think you can, begin it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Fools and wise folk are alike harmless. It is the half-wise and the half-foolish, who are the most dangerous.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
There is nothing in the world more pitiable than an irresolute man, oscillating between two feelings, who would willingly unite the two, and who does not perceive that nothing can unite them.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Indecision
Still this planet’s soil for noble deeds grants scope abounding.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Doing Your Best
If a man or woman is born ten years sooner or later, their whole aspect and performance shall be different.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Effort, Performance
Every reader if he has a strong mind, reads himself into the book, and amalgamates his thoughts with those of the author.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Reading
When all is said the greatest action is to limit and isolate one’s self.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Action
Happiness is a ball after which we run wherever it rolls, and we push it with our feet when it stops.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Happiness
What I possess I would gladly retain. Change amuses the mind, yet scarcely profits.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Change, Possessions
If a man knows where to get good advice, it is as though he could supply it himself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Advice
Only when we know little do we know anything; doubt grows with knowledge.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Doubt
He who is plenteously provided for from within needs but little from without.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Abundance, Wealth, Confidence, Self-reliance
Where is the man who has the strength to be true, and to show himself as he is?
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Honesty
A person is never happy till their vague strivings has itself marked out its proper limitations.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Happiness
What government is the best? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Self-Control, Government
Before you can do something you must first be something.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Action, Humankind
Everything in the world may be endured, except continual prosperity.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Never by reflection, but only by doing is self-knowledge possible to one.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Topics: Knowledge
I can tell you, honest friend, what to believe: believe life; it teaches better that book or orator.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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