Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on creation
“We often feel that we lack something, and seem to see that very quality in someone else, promptly attributing all our own qualities to him too, and a kind of ideal contentment as well. And so the happy mortal is a model of complete perfection–which we have ourselves created.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe97 quotes
More from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The intelligent man finds everything laughable, the sensible man hardly anything.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe The suffering may be moral or physical; and in my opinion it is just as absurd to call a man a coward who destroys himself, as to call a man a coward who dies of a malignant fever.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Doubt can only be removed by action.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe The human race is a monotonous affair. Most people spend the greatest part of their time working in order to live, and what little freedom remains so fills them with fear that they seek out any and every means to be rid of it.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Love does not dominate; it cultivates.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Everybody wants to be somebody, but nobody wants to grow.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe For a man to achieve all that is demanded of him, he must regard himself as greater than he is.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe To be loved for what one is, that is the greatest exception. The great majority love in others only what they lend him; their own selves, their version of him.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Night is the other half of life, and the better half.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Behaviour is a mirror in which every one displays his own image.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe
Original quotes
From our community writers
Someone rejected you does not mean you are not worthy. Maybe they can’t afford to be with you.
Jacklyn TysonJacklyn Tyson I will love you from afar it’s better this way because close up it hurts too much.
Melissa AndersonMelissa Anderson Maybe if you hold me tight, our love won’t be as shallow.
Mira R. AridiMira R. Aridi Sometimes a person is in peace & in the piece at the same time.
Jessica CollinsJessica Collins Between day and night there was a moment of silence.
Frode GaslandFrode Gasland But doesn’t it hurt to feel so much and pretend not to?
Brad NeatonBrad Neaton Admire your sweet way of glowing; your passionate way of flowing.
Ana SoulfulAna Soulful Darling, you are a warrior, for even though each day feels like a battle, you keep fighting and live on.
Sarah ShawkatSarah Shawkat
Meet the writers
More on creation
Belgium is a country invented by the British to annoy the French.
Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle The word advent means “expectation.” What advent can do for us is create a sense of hope.
Louie GiglioLouie Giglio Part of the broader task of Christian scholarship is to help create and sustain a cultural milieu in which the gospel can be heard as an intellectually viable option for thinking men and women.
William Lane CraigWilliam Lane Craig I just do art because I’m ugly and there’s nothing else for me to do.
Andy WarholAndy Warhol Business is fun. Controlling your own destiny is fun. Creating an idea and turning it into a movie; finding an artist and guiding their career and bringing them to some type of status – there’s joy in that.
Queen LatifahQueen Latifah Don’t make a film if it can’t be the film you want to make. It’s a joke, and a sick joke, and it’ll kill you.
David LynchDavid Lynch The best way to create a winning team is to train them, give them everything they need to get the job done and second, make sure they know what the job is and what the job will be. So you connect strategy to resources.
Colin PowellColin Powell As organizations, we have to find ways to create more opportunities, especially for our young people. A lot of corporations, they have to make opportunities for young people – create internships, for example, even if it’s only half-time.
Dolores HuertaDolores Huerta
Keep exploring
More Poet
