Quotes
Quotes - Goethe
Whoever gives himself up to solitude, Ah! he is soon alone. [Ger., Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergiebt, Ach! der ist bald allein.]
Alas! sorrow from happiness is oft evolved. [Ger., Ach! aus dem Gluck entwickelt oft sich Schmerz.]
Who never ate his bread in sorrow, Who never spent the darksome hours Weeping, and watching for the morrow,-- He knows ye not, ye gloomy Powers. [Ger., Wer nie sein Brod mit Thranen ass, Wer nicht die kummervollen Nachte Auf seinem Bette weinend sass, Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Machte.]
I am the Spirit that denies. [Ger., Ich bin der Geist stets verneint.]
Thou shalt abstain, Renounce, refrain. [Ger., Entbehren sollst du! sollst entbehren.]
Care is taken that trees do not grow into the sky. [Ger., Es ist dafur gesorgt, dass die Baume nicht in den Himmel wachsen.]
The trouble is small, the fun is great. [Ger., Die Muh'ist klein, der Spass ist gross.]
As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.
In the twilight of morning to climb to the top of the mountain,-- Thee to salute, kindly star, earliest herald of day,-- And to await, with impatience, the gaze of the ruler of heaven.-- Youthful delight, oh, how oft lur'st thou me out in the night.
To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts expressed. That can make life a garden.
Divide and command, a wise maxim; Unite and guide, a better. [Ger., Entzwei' und gebiete! Tuchtig Wort, Verein' und leite! Bess'rer Hort.]
The universal subjugator, the commonplace. [Ger., Was uns alle bandigt, das Gemeine.]
The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and though distant, is close to us in spirit - this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.
If you modestly enjoy your fame you are not unworthy to rank with the holy.
A vi'let on the meadow grew, That no one saw, that no one knew, It was a modest flower. A shepherdess pass'd by that way-- Light footed, pretty and so gay; That way she came, Softly warbling forth her lay.
Water its living strength first shows, When obstacles its course oppose.
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.]
He who is firm in will molds the world to himself. [Ger., Aber wer fest auf dem Sinne beharrt, der bildet die Welt sich.]
He who has a firm will molds the world to himself.
Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.
What one has wished for in youth, in old age one has in abundance. [Ger., Was man in der Jugend wunscht, hat man im Alter die Fulle.]
With little wit and ease to suit them, They whirl in narrow circling trails, Like kittens playing with their tails. [Ger., Mit wenig Witz und viel Behagen Dreht jeder sich im engen Zirkeltanz Wie junge Katzen mit dem Schwanz.]
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.]
