Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes on Knowledge
Goethe (1749–1832), whose scientific writings were almost as extensive as his literary corpus, defended in the Theory of Colours (1810) and the Metamorphosis of Plants (1790) a distinctive conception of natural knowledge — "delicate empiricism" (zarte Empirie) — in which the patient ordering of phenomena into morphological series displays the archetypal form (Urpflanze, Urphänomen) of which the observed instances are transformations. The framework was developed in conscious opposition to the mathematical-physical method of Newton, and the philosophical writings on method articulate the corresponding case for a non-reductive science whose object remains the living phenomenon rather than its abstract analytic decomposition.
Quotes
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Attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”
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“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.”
Es ist nichts schrecklicher als eine tätige Unwissenheit. -
“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.”
Letter to A. F. Oeser (9 November 1768), Early and miscellaneous letters of J. W. Goethe, including letters to his mother. With notes and a short biography (1884) | Alternative translation: "Correction does much, but encouragement does more. -
“Alternative translation: "Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”
Instruction does much, but encouragement everything. -
“Wo viel Licht ist, ist starker Schatten.”
There is strong shadow where there is much light . Götz von Berlichingen , Act I (1773) -
“There is strong shadow where there is much light . Götz von Berlichingen , Act I (1773)”
Wo viel Licht ist, ist starker Schatten. -
“So gewiß ist der allein glücklich und groß, der weder zu herrschen noch zu gehorchen braucht, um etwas zu sein!”
He alone is great and happy who fills his own station of independence, and has neither to command nor to obey. [ 1 ] | Alternative translation: So certain is it that he alone is great and happy, who requires neither to command nor to obey, in order to secure his being of some importance in the world. [ 2 ] Götz von Berlichingen , Act I (1773), p. 39 -
“To know of someone here and there whom we accord with, who is living on with us, even in silence — this makes our earthly ball a peopled garden.”
Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre(Apprenticeship)(1786–1830) | Bk. VII, Ch. 5 -
“What wise or stupid thing can man conceive That was not thought of in ages long ago?”
Faust, Part 2(1832) | Act II, The Gothic Chamber -
“Scientific knowledge helps us mainly because it makes the wonder to which we are called by nature rather more intelligible.”
Maxims and Reflections(1833) | Maxim 417, trans. Stopp -
“No one would talk much in society, if he knew how often he misunderstands others.”
Elective Affinities(1809) | Bk. II, Ch. 4 -
“Those who cannot draw conclusions From three thousand years of learning Stay naïve in dark confusions Day to day live undiscerning.”
West–östlicher Divan(West–Eastern Diwan)(1819/1827) | Book V (Rendsch Nameh), sec. XV -
“I know a little of navigation: / War, trade, and piracy, allow, / As three in one, no separation.”
Faust, Part 2(1832) | Act V, Scene 3