Nothing is more odious than the majority, for it consists of a few powerful leaders, a certain number of accommodating scoundrels and submissive weaklings, and a mass of men who trot after them without thinking, or knowing their own minds. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe More Quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe More Quotes From Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Those who have no hope for a future life are already dead for the present one. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe future-life no-hope hope There is nothing new on earth / For a person who lives long and experiences much. / In my years of youthful wandering / I have seen crystallized people. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe long people years Life is but a preparation for what there is to come. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe preparation life-is Modern poets add a lot of water to their ink. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ink poetry water One is never satisfied with the portrait of a person that one knows. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe self-portrait portraiture portraits What you have inherited from your forefathers, it takes work to make it your own. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe forefathers talent If I work incessantly to the last, nature owes me another form of existence when the present one collapses. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe form lasts work Without haste! without rest! Bind the motto to thy breast! Bear it with thee as a spell; Storm or sunshine , guard it well. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe storm sunshine haste Lose this day loitering 'Twill be the same old story, Tomorrow and the next, Even more dilatory. Whatever you would do, Or dream of doing, begin it! Boldness has power, genius, and magic in it. Begin it now. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe responsibility courage dream I always had an aversion to your apostles of freedom; each but sought for himself freedom to do what he liked. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe apostles aversion freedom Thou tremblest before anticipated ills, and still bemoanest what thou never losest. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe anticipation stills It used to happen, and still happens, to me to take no pleasure in a work of art at the first sight of it, because it is too much for me; but if I suspect any merit in it, I try to get at it; and then I never fail to make the most gratifying discoveries--to find new qualities in the work itself and new faculties in myself. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe sight discovery art When Nature begins to reveal her open secret to a man, he feels an irresistible longing for her worthiest interpreter, Art. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe secret men art Beauty can never really understand itself. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe beauty Everything that we call Invention or Discovery in the higher sense of the word is the serious exercise and activity of an original feeling for truth, which, after a long course of silent cultivation, suddenly flashes out into fruitful knowledge. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe exercise discovery long If you lay duties upon people and give them no rights, you must pay them well. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe rights giving people Hatred is active displeasure, envy passive. We need not wonder that envy turns to soon to hatred. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe envy hatred needs What a day it is when we must envy the men in their graves. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe envy he-man men Every idea appears at first as a strange visitor, and when it begins to be realized, it is hardly distinguishable from fantasy. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visitors ideas firsts Certain faults are necessary to the individual if he is to exist. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe individual faults certain
