Quotes from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Distance, my friend, is like futurity. A dim vastness is spread before our souls: the perceptions of our mind are as obscure as those of our vision; and we desire earnestly to surrender up our whole being, that it may be filled with the complete and perfect bliss of one glorious emotion. But alas! when we have attained our object, when the distant there becomes the present here, all is changed; we are as poor and circumscribed as ever, and our souls still languish for unattainable happiness.

I do not pretend to aught worth knowing, I do not pretend I could be a teacher To help or convert a fellow-creature. Then, too, I've neither lands nor gold, Nor the world's least pomp or honor hold— No dog would endure such a curst existence!

The eye is the worst way to judge.

No obstante, si tú te alejases de su lado, sentirían... ¿cuánto tiempo sentirían el vacío que tu pérdida dejaría en sus existencias?

I have made all sorts of acquaintances, but have as yet found no society. I know not what attraction I possess for the people, so many of them like me, and attach themselves to me; and then I feel sorry when the road we pursue together goes only a short distance.

Tanr?'ya, onu bana ba???lamas? için dua edemiyorum; ama yine de o sanki bana aitmi? gibi geliyor. Tanr?'ya, onu bana vermesi için dua edemiyorum; çünkü o bir ba?kas?na ait. Ac?lar içinde kuruntulara dal?yorum; dü?ündüklerimi ka??da dökmeye kalk??sam, bir kar??tl?klar ilahisi ç?kar ortaya.

Es ist ein großer Unterschied, ob ich lese zum Genuss und Belebung oder zur Erkenntnis und Belehrung.

Sólo Dios sabe cuánto me cuesta mirar y remirar tantos encantos, sin atreverme a extender mis manos hacia ella. Apoderarse de lo que se ofrece a nuestra vista y nos embelesa, ¿no es un instinto propio de la humanidad? ¿No se esfuerza el niño por coger cuanto le gusta? Y yo..?

Sólo Dios sabe cuántas veces me he dormido con el deseo y la esperanza de no despertar jamás. Y al día siguiente abro los ojos, vuelvo a ver la luz del sol y siento de nuevo el peso de mi existencia.

Este corazón está ahora muerto, cerrado a todas las sensaciones; mis ojos están secos, y mis acerbos dolores, que no tienen desahogo, llenan de prematuras arrugas mi frente. ¡Cuánto sufro!

ill-humour resembles indolence: it is natural to us; but if once we have courage to exert ourselves, we find our work run fresh from our hands, and we experience in the activity from which we shrank a real enjoyment.

Pensar!—exclamé. ¿Qué necesidad tenéis de recordármelo, puesto que, piense o no piense, siempre estáis presente en mi alma?

But when, in spite of weakness and disappointments, we set to work in earnest, and persevere steadily, we often find, that, though obliged continually to tack, we make more way than others who have the assistance of wind and tide; and, in truth, there can be no greater satisfaction than to keep pace with others or outstrip them in the race.

Por qué no he de confesar mi angustia en este momento en que mi ser tiembla y fluctúa entre la vida y la muerte, en que el pasado se proyecta como un relámpago en el sombrío abismo del porvenir, en que todo lo que me rodea se desploma y en que el mundo parece acabarse conmigo? ¿No reconoces la voz de la criatura extenuada, desfallecida, que se hunde sin remedio, y a pesar de su inútil lucha, gritando con amargura...

High as winged imagination's flight is, Nothing it is able to conceive suffices. But minds uncommon, deep, preserved from arrogance, Have in the infinite infinite confidence.

collect As many tripods as you think you'll need, Together with the other kinds of vessels That the rites of sacrifice require: cauldrons, Shallow basins, bowls; pour tall jugs full 8860 Of purest water from the sacred spring; Have ready wood that's dry and quick to catch; And finally, be sure a sharp knife's there. All else I leave to you." Those

So all in their different fashions pursued their daily lives, thoughtfully or not; everything seemed to be following is usual course, as is the way in monstrously strange circumstances when everything is at stake: we go on with our lives as though nothing were the matter.

Suelo decirme a mí mismo: Tu destino no tiene igual: comparados contigo, los demás hombres son felices; porque jamás mortal alguno se vio atormentado como tú. Entonces leo a cualquier poeta antiguo y me parece que es el libro mi propio corazón. ¡Qué! ¿Aún me queda tanto que sufrir? ¿Y antes que yo ha habido hombres tan desgraciados?

These feet won't bear the woman Up the steep steps as lightheartedly They did the skipping child long years ago.

Allein wer andre wohl zu leiten strebt muß fähig sein viel zu entbehren

Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days. Whatever you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it.

I take the wildering whirl, enjoyment's keenest pain, Enamored hate, exhilarant disdain.

We human bekngsoften complain that there are so few good days and so many bad ones; but I think we are generally wrong. If our hearts were always open to enjoy the good, which God gives us Every day, then we should also have enough strength to hear the evil, whenever it comes.

Man spricht vergebens viel, um zu versagen; Der andre hört von allem nur das Nein.