50 quotes
German writer, artist, natural scientist and politician (1749–1832)
“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.”
"Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game."
on Creativity
"National hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture."
on Culture
"What you inherit from your fathermust first be earned before it's yours."
on Wisdom
"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words."
on Art
"The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it."
on Talent
"If you've never eaten while crying you don t know what life tastes like."
on Life
"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action."
on Fear
"All that is transitory is but a metaphor."
on Philosophy
"In all things it is better to hope than to despair."
on Hope
"Whatever liberates our spirit without giving us mastery over ourselves is destructive."
on Freedom
"Divide and rule, the politician cries;Unite and lead, is watchword of the wise."
on Leadership
"Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it!"
on Motivation
"A clever man commits no minor blunders."
"Everything transitory is but an image."
"There is strong shadow where there is much light."
on Emotion
"A human being needs only a small plot of ground on which to be happy, and even less to lie beneath."
"In the realm of ideas, everything depends on enthusiasm. ... In the real world, all rests on perseverance."
on Perseverance
"The things I know, every man can know, but, oh, my heart is mine alone!"
on Identity
"Man needs only a small patch of earth for his pleasures, and a smaller one still to rest beneath."
"Classicism is health, romanticisim is sickness."
