Quote collection
353 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Folly, thou conquerest, and I must yield! Against stupidity the very gods Themselves contend in vain. Exalted reason, Resplendent daughter of the head divine, Wise foundress of the system of the world, Guide of the stars, who are thou then, if thou, Bound to the tail of folly's uncurb'd steed, Must, vainly shrieking, with the drunken crowd, Eyes open, plunge down headlong in the abyss."
"I feel an army in my fist."
"It is not the mere station of life that stamps the value on us, but the manner in which we act our part."
"Have Faith. Where'er thy bark is driven, - The calm's disport, the tempest's mirth, - Know this: God rules the hosts of heaven, The habitants of earth."
"Vast, colossal destiny, which raises man to fame, though it may also grind him to powder!"
"A sublime soul can rise to all kinds of greatness, but by an effort; it can tear itself from all bondage, to all that limits and constrains it, but only by strength of will. Consequently the sublime soul is only free by broken efforts."
"Individual character is in the right that is in strict consistence with itself. Self-contradiction is the only wrong."
"For the world is only governed by self-interest."
"Wine invents nothing; it only tattles."
"Be true, and thou shalt fetter time with everlasting chain."
"In the ardor of pursuit men soon forget the goal from which they start."
"A deep meaning often lies in old customs."
"Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he plays."
"When the measured dance of the hours brings back the happy smile of spring, the buried dead is born again in the life-glance of the sun. The germs which perished to the eye within the cold breast of the earth spring up with joy in the bright realm of day."
"The world's history is the world's judgment."
"O God, how lovely still is life!"
"An honest man you may form of windle-straws, but to make a rogue you must have grist."
"Most gladly would I give the blood-stained laurel for the first violet which March brings us, the fragrant pledge of the new-fledged year."
"When the gods were more manlike, Men were more godlike."
"Yet have I ever heard it said that spies and tale-bearers have done more mischief in this world than poisoned bowl or the assassin's dagger."