Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes About Writing

• If a man writes a book, let him set down only what he knows. I have guesses enough of my own.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Funny, Sarcastic, Book

• We are pantheists when we study nature, polytheists when we write poetry, monotheists in our morality.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Religious, Writing, Morality

• If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts; and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Motivational, Writing, Men

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann (2014). “Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann”, p.95, Ravenio Books

• Sin writes histories, goodness is silent.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, History, Sin

  "Mitteilungen ueber GoetheBo". Book by Friedrich Wilhelm Riemer, II. 9, 1810.

• Someday someone will write a pathology of experimental physics and bring to light all those swindles which subvert our reason, beguile our judgement and, what is worse, stand in the way of any practical progress. The phenomena must be freed once and for all from their grim torture chamber of empiricism, mechanism, and dogmatism; they must be brought before the jury of man's common sense.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Science, Men

• Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Inspirational, Life, Beautiful

• The most original of authors are not so because they advance what is new, but more because they know how to say something, as if it had never been said before.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Originality, Said

• Writing history is a method of getting rid of the past.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Past, History

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1897). “Criticisms, reflections, and maxims of Goethe: Tr., with an introduction”

• He who does not expect a million readers should not write a line.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Doe, Lines

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann (2014). “Conversations of Goethe with Johann Peter Eckermann”, p.161, Ravenio Books

• My counsel is, to force nothing, and rather to trifle and sleep away all unproductive days and hours, than on such days to compose something that will afterwards give no pleasure.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Sleep, Giving

• A creation of importance can only be produced when its author isolates himself, it is a child of solitude.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Inspirational, Children, Being Alone

• Writing is busy idleness.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Busy, Idleness

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Charles E. Passage (1980). “Goethe's plays”, Frederick Ungar

• Sin writes histories, goodness is silent.
  [Ger., Das Uebel macht eine Geschichte und das Gute keine.]

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, History, Sin

• He who would reproach an author for obscurity should look into his own mind to see whether it is quite clear there. In the dusk the plainest writing is illegible.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Mind, Obscurity

• Generally speaking, an author's style is a faithful copy of his mind. If you would write a lucid style, let there first be light in your own mind; and if you would write a grand style, you ought to have a grand character.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Character, Writing, Light

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1853). “Goethe's Opinions on the World, Mankind, Literature, Science, and Art”, p.116

• The style of writing required in the great world is distinguished by a free and daring grace, a careless security, a fine and sharp polish, a delicate and perfect taste; while that fitted for the people is characterized by a vigorous natural fulness, a profound depth of feeling, and an engaging naivete.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Writing, Profound, Perfect

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