Quotations by Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.

That is the true season of love, when we believe that we alone can love, that no one could ever have loved so before us, and that no one will love in the same way after us.

Treat a man (child) as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man (child) as if he were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be.

We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.

When ideas fail, words come in very handy.

What government is the best? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.

Unlike grown ups, children have little need to deceive themselves.

A correct answer is like an affectionate kiss.

A person hears only what they understand.

Be generous with kindly words, especially about those who are absent.

Being brilliant is no great feat if you respect nothing.

Common sense is the genius of humanity.

Correction does much, but encouragement does more.

Divide and rule, the politician cries; unite and lead, is watchword of the wise.

Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.

Every spoken word arouses our self-will.

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.

He who possesses art and science has religion; he who does not possess them, needs religion.

He who does not think much of himself is much more esteemed than he imagines.

If you wish to know the mind of a man, (or child) listen to his words.

No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.

Self-knowledge comes from knowing other men.

Precaution is better than cure.

Unlike grown ups, children have little need to deceive themselves.

We can't form our children on our own concepts; we must take them and love them as God (nature) gives them to us.

We do not have to visit a madhouse to find disordered minds; our planet is the mental institution of the universe.