Check out the best 5 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotations which are life enlightening.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a poet, novelist and playwright.
He was born on August 28, 1749, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
In 1774, Goethe published his first novel titled “The Sorrows of Young Werther“, which brought him fame.
The following year, he was invited to the court of Carl August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Goethe went to live in Weimar, where he remained for the rest of his life.
From there, he sent to write his second novel “Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship“.
Goethe also wrote the dramas “Iphigenia in Tauris“, “Egmont“, “Torquato Tasso” and the fable “Reineke Fuchs“.
In 1806 this German literary figure finished the first part of “Faust”.
He published his novel “Die Wahlverwandtschaften” in 1809
In 1831, he completed his most popular poetic work “Faust 2“.
On March 22, 1832, Goethe passed away at the age of eighty three.
Best 5 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations
Here are my selected best 5 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotations:
“Nothing is more highly to be prized than the value of each day.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Nichts ist höher zu schätzen als der Werth des Tages.” (German)
(The Maxims And Reflections Of Goethe By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Translated By Bailey Saunders With A Preface, New York: The Macmillian Company, 1906, Life And Character, 332, P. 132) source
(The quote in German is found in: Goethe’s Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, J. G. Cotta’schen Buchhandlung, Stuttgart/ Tübingen,1833, P. 130) source
“Soon as you in yourself confide, you know the way to live.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Sobald du dir vertraust, sobald weißt du zu leben.” (German)
(Faust: A Tragedy By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Vol.1, Translated By Lewis Filmore, London: William Smith, 1847, Sc. IV, Faust Study, P. 79) source
(The quote in German can be found here.)
”A rainbow which lasts a quarter of an hour is looked at no more.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Einen Regenbogen, der eine Viertelstunde steht, sieht man nicht mehr an.” (German)
(The Maxims And Reflections Of Goethe By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Translated By Bailey Saunders With A Preface, New York: The Macmillian Company, 1906, Life And Character, 115, P. 84) source
(The quote in German is found here.)
“A man is not deceived by others, he deceives himself.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Man wird nie betrogen, man betrügt sich selbst.” (German)
(The Maxims And Reflections Of Goethe By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Translated By Bailey Saunders With A Preface, New York: The Macmillian Company, 1906, Life And Character, 320; P. 129) source
(The quote in German is found here.)
“Every man hears only what he understands.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Es hört doch jeder nur, was er versteht.” (German)
(The Maxims And Reflections Of Goethe By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Translated By Bailey Saunders With A Preface, New York: The Macmillian Company, 1906, Life And Character, 383, P. 143) source
(The quote in German is found here.)
Here is a full collection of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes.