Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations - ThoughtCo
"Der Alte verliert eines der größten Menschenrechte: er wird nicht mehr von seines Gleichen beurteilt." English Translation: An old man loses ...
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# Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations

German to English Translations of His Quotations

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![Painting of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Staedelmuseum, Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany](https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/hZCdBK5skrHQzdC82xtwKvx-NGI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/GettyImages-181213142-59da2150519de20011533c03-5c23f4e346e0fb00013f266c.jpg)

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By

[Hyde Flippo](https://www.thoughtco.com/hyde-flippo-1443959)

[Hyde Flippo](https://www.thoughtco.com/hyde-flippo-1443959)

German Expert

Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture.

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Updated on December 26, 2018

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://www.thoughtco.com/johan-wolfgang-von-goethe-1444333) (1749–1832) was a prolific German poet and writer. Within his body of work are many quotes ( _zitate_, in German) that are now famous bits of wisdom passed down through the generations. A number of these have also influenced other popular musings and sage advice.

Among Goethe's best-known lines are those below. Many come from published books of the poet's work while a few are from personal correspondence. Here, we will explore them in both their original [German](https://www.thoughtco.com/german-4133073) as well as the English translations.

## One of the Best-Known Goethe Quotes

> "Man sieht nur das, was man weiß."

English Translation: You only see what you know.

## Goethe From "Die Wahlverwandtschaften"

"Die Wahlverwandtschaften" ( _Elective Affinities_) was Goethe's third novel published in 1809.

> "Glücklicherweise kann der Mensch nur einen gewissen Grad des Unglücks fassen; was darüber hinausgeht, vernichtet ihn oder läßt ihn gleichgültig."

English Translation: Fortunately, people can comprehend only a certain degree of misfortune; anything beyond that either destroys them or leaves them indifferent.

## Goethe From "Maximen und Reflexionen"

"Maximen und Reflexionen" ( _Maxims and Reflections_) is a collection of Goethe's writings published posthumously in 1833.

> "Der Alte verliert eines der größten Menschenrechte: er wird nicht mehr von seines Gleichen beurteilt."

English Translation: An old man loses one of the most important rights of man: he is no longer judged by his peers.

> "Es ist nichts schrecklicher als eine tätige Unwissenheit."

English Translation: There's nothing worse than ignorance in action.

## Goethe to Eckermann, 1830

Goethe and fellow poet Johann Peter Eckermann regularly corresponded with one another. This comes from a 1830 letter to Eckermann.

> "Napoleon gibt uns ein Beispiel, wie gefährlich es sei, sich ins Absolute zu erheben und alles der Ausführung einer Idee zu opfern."

English Translation: Napoleon provides us an example of how dangerous it is to be elevated to the absolute and to sacrifice everything to implement an idea.

## Goethe From "Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre"

"Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre" ( _Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years_) is the third in a series of books written by Goethe. It was first published in 1821, then revised and republished in 1829.

> "Unter allem Diebesgesindel sind die Narren die schlimmsten. Sie rauben euch beides, Zeit und Stimmung."

English Translation: Of all the thieving riff-raff, fools are the worst. They steal both your time and your good mood.

> "Das Leben gehört den Lebenden an, und wer lebt, muss auf Wechsel gefasst sein."

English Translation: Life belongs to the living, and those who live must be prepared for change.

> "Es gibt keine patriotische Kunst und keine patriotische Wissenschaft. Beide gehören, wie alles hohe Gute, der ganzen Welt an..."

English Translation: There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science. Both belong, like all high good, to the whole world...

## Goethe From "Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre"

"Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre" ( _Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship_) is the second volume in Goethe's famous series, published in 1795.

> "Alles, was uns begegnet, läßt Spuren zurück. Alles trägt unmerklich zu unserer Bildung bei."

English Translation:Everything we encounter leaves traces behind. Everything contributes imperceptibly to our education.

> "Die beste Bildung findet ein gescheiter Mensch auf Reisen."

English Translation: The best education for a clever person is found in travel.

## Goethe From "Sprichwörtlich"

The following are small excerpts from Goethe's poem "Sprichwörtlich" ( _Proverbial_).

> Zwischen heut' und morgen
>
> liegt eine lange Frist.
>
> Lerne schnell besorgen,
>
> Da du noch munter bist.

English Translation:

Between today and tomorrow

lies a long time.

Learn quickly to take care of things

while you're still fit.

> Tu nur das Rechte in deinen Sachen;
>
> Das andre wird sich von selber machen.

English Translation:

Just do the right thing in your affairs;

The rest will take care of itself.

## Goethe From "Reineke Fuchs"

"Reineke Fuchs" is a 12-song epic written by Goethe in 1793.

> "Besser laufen, als faulen."

English Translation: Better to run than to rot.

## Goethe From "Hermann und Dorothea"

"Hermann and Dorothea" is one of Goethe's epic poems published in 1796.

> "Wer nicht vorwärts geht, der kommt zurücke."

English Translation: If you're not going forward, you're going backward.

## Goethe From "Faust I (Vorspiel auf dem Theater)"

"Faust I" is a collection of Goethe's work and when combined with "Faust II," the two span 60 years of the poet's artistic writings. "Vorspiel auf dem Theater" ( _Prelude on the Theater_) is one poem examining the conflicts of drama and theater.

> Was glänzt, ist für den Augenblick geboren,
>
> Das Echte bleibt der Nachwelt unverloren.

English Translation:

That which glitters is born for the moment;

The genuine remains intact for future days.

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Flippo, Hyde. "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations." ThoughtCo, Jun. 25, 2024, thoughtco.com/goethe-zitate-german-english-quotations-4069390.Flippo, Hyde. (2024, June 25). Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/goethe-zitate-german-english-quotations-4069390Flippo, Hyde. "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotations." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/goethe-zitate-german-english-quotations-4069390 (accessed September 12, 2024).

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