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The Sorrows of Young Werther quotes

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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“The suffering may be moral or physical; and in my opinion it is just as absurd to call a man a coward who destroys himself, as to call a man a coward who dies of a malignant fever.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“All the knowledge I possess every one else can acquire, but my heart is exclusively my own.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“The town itself is disagreeable; but then, all around, you find an inexpressible beauty of nature.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Naturalists tell of a noble race of horses that instinctively open a vein with their teeth, when heated and exhausted by a long course, in order to breathe more freely. I am often tempted to open a vein, to procure for myself everlasting liberty.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“It has ever been my fate to give pain to those whose happiness I should have promoted.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“I treat my poor heart like a sick child, and gratify its every fancy.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Weary of liberty, he suffered himself to be saddled and bridled, and was ridden to death for his pains.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others by ourselves; and I have so much trouble with myself, and my own heart is in such constant agitation, that I am well content to let others pursue their own course, if they only...” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Did I not feel charmed at those truly genuine expressions of nature, which, though but little mirthful in reality, so often amused us?” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“On this account, nothing is more dangerous than solitude: there our imagination, always disposed to rise, taking a new flight on the wings of fancy, pictures to us a chain of beings of whom we seem the most inferior. All things appear greater...” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“I do not think of you: you are ever before my soul!” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Must it ever be thus,—that the source of our happiness must also be the fountain of our misery?” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“God of heaven! and is this the destiny of man? Is he only happy before he has acquired his reason, or after he has lost it?” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“what a torment it is to see so much loveliness passing and repassing before us, and yet not dare to lay hold of it!” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“My days are as happy as those reserved by God for his elect; and, whatever be my fate hereafter, I can never say that I have not tasted joy,—the purest joy of life.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“I have possessed that heart, that noble soul, in whose presence I seemed to be more than I really was, because I was all that I could be.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“The world runs on from one folly to another; and the man who, solely from regard to the opinion of others, and without any wish or necessity of his own, toils after gold, honour, or any other phantom, is no better than a fool.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Then, in happy ignorance, I sighed for a world I did not know, where I hoped to find every pleasure and enjoyment which my heart could desire; and now, on my return from that wide world, O my friend, how many disappointed hopes and unsuccessful...” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“And I have again observed, my dear friend, in this trifling affair, that misunderstandings and neglect occasion more mischief in the world than even malice and wickedness.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Poor fool! in whose petty estimation all things are little.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Man needs but little earth for enjoyment, and still less for his final repose.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Gracious Providence, to whom I owe all my powers, why didst thou not withhold some of those blessings I possess, and substitute in their place a feeling of self-confidence and contentment?” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“What is the destiny of man, but to fill up the measure of his sufferings, and to drink his allotted cup of bitterness?” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“Often do I strive to allay the burning fever of my blood; and you have never witnessed anything so unsteady, so uncertain, as my heart.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“We are so constituted that we believe the most incredible things; and, once they are engraved upon the memory, woe to him who would endeavour to efface them.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“In this world one is seldom reduced to make a selection between two alternatives. There are as many varieties of conduct and opinion as there are turns of feature between an aquiline nose and a flat one.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
“He values my understanding and talents more highly than my heart, but I am proud of the latter only.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther

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heart happiness suffering nature love misery pain freedom death soul foolishness enjoyment destiny soulmate life sorrow beauty joy cowardice hope

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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes