As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

As usual, I shall tell my story badly; and you, as usual, will think me extravagant.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A useless life is an early death.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it!

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws, which otherwise would have been hidden from us forever.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Because everyone uses language to talk, everyone thinks they can talk about language.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Behavior is a mirror in which every one displays his own image.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Being brilliant is no great feat if you respect nothing.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Being full of mischief, they love to listen;they gladly obey, for they like to betray you, pretending to be sent from Heaven, and lisping like angels, while they lie.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe