Home / Quotes / Quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“So dear night the half of life is, And the fairest half indeed.”

Work

Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship is a coming-of-age story that follows the protagonist's experiences in different realms of life, including his time as an apprentice, his adventures as a journeyman, and his pursuit of artistic and intellectual fulfillment. more

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born on August 28, 1749, and died on March 22, 1832, was a prominent German writer, thinker, and scientist. He is one of the greatest writers in German literary history and his works have had a profound impact on the world. His most famous works include 'Faust' and 'The Sorrows of Young Werther'. more

“Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always so composed, so full of wisdom, that we are able to take in at once the whole scope of a work according to its merits. Do we not mark in a book passages which seem to have a direct reference to ourselves? Young people especially, who have failed in acquiring a complete cultivation of mind, are roused in a praiseworthy way by brilliant passages.”

People Way Mind May Book Whole Seems Able Form Young Results Direct Mark Brilliant Excellent Merit Collections Passages Nevertheless Quotations Scope Cultivation Praiseworthy

Author:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Our destiny often looks like a fruit-tree in winter. Who would think from its pitiable aspect that those rigid boughs, those rough twigs could next spring again be green, bloom, and even bear fruit? Yet we hope it, we know it.”

Thinking Knows Looks Next Destiny Tree Bears Spring Aspect Green Fruit Winter Rough Our Destiny Twigs Fruit Trees

Book:Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Illustrated)

“I am further of opinion that it would be better for us to have [no laws] at all than to have them in so prodigious numbers as we have.”

Would Be Law Justice Numbers Opinion Prodigious

Book:Essays [tr. by Cotton

Source: Essays [tr. by Cotton

“He was doubtless an understanding Fellow that said, there was no happy Marriage but betwixt a blind Wife and a deaf Husband.”

Said Understanding Wife Husband Fellows Blind Deaf Happy Marriage

Book:Essays of Michael Seigneur de Montaigne: In Three Books with Marginal Notes and Quotations. And an Account of the Author's Life. With a Short Character of the Author and Translator,

Source: Essays of Michael Seigneur de Montaigne: In Three Books with Marginal Notes and Quotations. And an Account of the Author's Life. With a Short Character of the Author and Translator,

“We find our energies are actually cramped when we are overanxious to succeed.”

Energy Balance Succeed Moderation

Author:Michel de Montaigne

“Nature has with a Motherly Tenderness observed this, that the Action she has enjoyned us for our Necessity should be also pleasant to us, and invites us to them, not only by Reason, but also by Appetite: and tis Injustice to infringe her Laws.”

Should Reason Action Law Nature Injustice Pleasant Appetite Invites Tenderness Motherly

Book:Essays of Michel de Montaigne

Source: Essays of Michel de Montaigne

“As by some might be saide of me: that here I have but gathered a nosegay of strange floures, and have put nothing of mine unto it, but the thred to binde them. Certes, I have given unto publike opinion, that these borrowed ornaments accompany me; but I meane not they should cover or hide me.”

Should Might Given Opinion Mines Strange Quotations Borrowed Accompany Ornaments

Book:The Essayes of Michel, Lord of Montaigne

Source: The Essayes of Michel, Lord of Montaigne

“And as hearbes and trees are bettered and fortified by being transplanted, so formes of speach are embellished and graced by variation.... As in our ordinary language, we shall sometimes meete with excellent phrases, and quaint metaphors, whose blithnesse fadeth through age, and colour is tarnish by to common using them.”