Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes on Death
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German poet, dramatist, novelist, scientist, and the towering figure of German Classicism. This page collects quotes attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on the topic of death, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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“The folly! Every man in turn would still His own peculiar notions magnify! If Islam mean submission to God’s will, May we all live in Islam, and all die.”
West–östlicher Divan(West–Eastern Diwan)(1819/1827) | The West–Eastern Divan , translated by Edward Dowden, VI. Book of Maxims, p. 86. -
“Wer nichts wagt, gerwinnt nichts. Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen aß, Wer nie die kummervollen Nächte Auf seinem Bette weinend saß, Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Mächte.”
Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre(Apprenticeship)(1786–1830) | Nothing venture, nothing gain. Who ne'er his bread in sorrow ate, Who ne'er the mournful midnight hours Weeping upon his bed has sate, He knows you not, ye Heavenly Powers. Bk. II, Ch. 13; translation -
“Die Kunst ist lang, das Leben kurz, das Urteil schwierig, die Gelegenheit flüchtig.”
Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre(Apprenticeship)(1786–1830) | Art is long, life short; judgment difficult, opportunity transient. Bk. VII, Ch. 9 Cf. Hippocrates , Ars longa vita brevis , Aphorisms 1:1 -
“Es gibt kein äußeres Zeichen der Höflichkeit, das nicht einen tiefen sittlichen Grund hätte. Die rechte Erziehung wäre, welche dieses Zeichen und den Grund zugleich überlieferte.”
Elective Affinities(1809) | There is no outward mark of politeness that does not have a profound moral reason. The right education would be that which taught the outward mark and the moral reason together. Bk. II, Ch. 5, R. J. H -
“Wenn die Menschen recht schlecht werden, haben sie keinen Anteil mehr als die Schadenfreude.”
Maxims and Reflections(1833) | People have to become really bad before they care for nothing but mischief, and delight in it. -
“Man sagt: „Studire, Künstler, die Natur!” Es ist aber keine Kleinigkeit, aus dem Gemeinen das Edle, aus der Unform das Schöne zu entwickeln.”
Maxims and Reflections(1833) | People say, “Artist, study nature!” But it is no small matter to develop what is noble out of what is common, beauty out of what lacks form. Maxim 191, trans. Stopp