Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes on Knowledge
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 knowledge, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
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. -
“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)”
Instruction does much, but encouragement everything. -
“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 -
“(1773), translated by Albert Schweizer in Goethe: Five Studies (1961), Beacon Press, p. 53”
I hold to faith in the divine love — which, so many years ago for a brief moment in a little corner of the earth, walked about as a man bearing the name of Jesus Christ — as the foundation on which alone my happiness rests.