Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"It is after all the greatest art to limit and isolate oneself."

"The mediator of the inexpressible is the work of art."

"Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes."

"Age does not make us childish, as some say; it finds us true children."

"The biggest problem with every art is by the use of appearance to create a loftier reality."

"Love can do much, but duty more."

"Es ist nicht genug, zu wissen, man muß auch anwenden; es ist nicht genug, zu wollen, man muß auch tun."

"To witness two lovers is a spectacle for the gods."

"Truth has to be repeated constantly, because Error also is being preached all the time, and not just by a few, but by the multitude. In the Press and Encyclopaedias, in Schools and Universities, everywhere Error holds sway, feeling happy and comfortable in the knowledge of having Majority on its side."

"Difficulties increase the nearer we get to the goal."

"Let mental culture go on advancing, let the natural sciences progress in even greater extent and depth, and the human mind widen itself as much as it desires: beyond the elevation and moral culture of Christianity, as it shines forth in the Gospels, it will not go."

"All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, until they take root in our personal experience."

"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."

"If you would create something,you must be something."

"Know thyself? If I knew myself, I'd run away."

"Man is not born to solve the problem of the universe, but to find out what he has to do; and to restrain himself within the limits of his comprehension."

"The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving."

"Character develops itself in the stream of life."

"At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you."

"Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it!"