Wednesday, 14 August 2024

QUOTING GOETHE

 

                QUOTING GOETHE

Goethe’s full name was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He was a German polymath and writer. Born on 28 August 1749, he died on 22 March 1832. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest and most influential writers of the world. Literary critics find a lot of wisdom in his multiple writings. “Faust, a Tragedy” is one of his most famous books.

According to a critic : “His life stood as a constant challenge to modern man to strive toward a society of more complete integrated human beings. “

Here are some of his best quotes on human personality.

1. Nations, slaves and conquerors with one accord agree the highest joy on this earth is personality.

2. A man may turn and twist as he will, he may undertake whatever he likes, he will always return to the path that Nature has marked out for him from the first.

3. No man sees the world as another sees it: different characters will draw different conclusions from a principle that all accept. Even the same man has not always the same views.  Early convictions must yield to later. What a man thinks and says need not stand every test, so long as he remains true to himself and others.

4. Every man of talent who has not been helped by time and circumstance but has had to work his way through many hindrances, and free himself from many mistakes, is at an immense disadvantage compared with a contemporary who has had the chance of developing easily and learning to use his powers without opposition.

5. Men never larn to be grateful enough to God or Nature or their fellow-men for gifts that are beyond all value.    

To conclude, this simple but meaningful quote: “A great crisis uplifts a man, little ones depress him.”

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G.R.Kanwal

 14 August 2024

 

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