Quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Insofar as he makes use of his healthy senses, man himself is the best and most exact scientific instrument possible.  The greatest misfortune of modern physics is that its experiments have been set apart from man, as it were, physics refuses to recognize nature in anything not shown by artificial instruments, and even uses this as a measure of its accomplishments.

Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own.

If you would create something, you must be something.

I love those who yearn for the impossible.

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.

What chance gathers she easily scatters. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.

Seize this very minute; what you can do, or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Architecture is frozen music.

Quite often, as life goes on, when we feel completely secure as we go on our way, we suddenly notice that we are trapped in error, that we have allowed ourselves to be taken in by individuals, by objects, have dreamt up an affinity with them which immediately vanishes before our waking eye; and yet we cannot tear ourselves away, held fast by some power that seems incomprehensible to us.  Sometimes, however, we become fully aware and realize that error as well as truth can move and spur us on to action.

Whoever wishes to keep a secret must hide the fact that he possesses one.