Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Character Quotations

Character develops itself in the stream of life.

Character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.

Character, in great and little things, means carrying through what you feel able to do.

There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they laugh at.

Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable.

The formation of one's character ought to be everyone's chief aim.

Men show their character in nothing more clearly than by what they think laughable.

Talents are best nurtured in solitude. Character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world.

Talents are best nurtured in solitude, but character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world

Talent develops in tranquillity, character in the full current of human life.

Talent develops in quiet, Character in the torrent of the world

Genius is formed in quiet, character in the stream of human life

Genius develops in quiet places, character out in the full current of human life

What is the true test of character unless it be its progressive development in the bustle and turmoil, in the action and reaction of daily life.

Men's prejudices rest upon their character for the time being and cannot be overcome, as being part and parcel of themselves. Neither evidence nor common sense nor reason has the slightest influence upon them.

It is the color closest to light. In its utmost purity it always implies the nature of brightness and has a cheerful, serene, gently stimulating character. Hence, experience teaches us that yellow makes a thoroughly warm and comforting impression.

A talent can be cultivated in tranquility; a character only in the rushing stream of life.

Nothing tells more about the character of a man than the things he makes fun of.

The history of mankind is his character.

Talents are nurtured best in solitude, But character on life's tempestuous seas!

The history of a man is in his character.

It is commonly the personal character of a writer which gives him his public significance. It is not imparted by his genius. Napoleon said of Corneille, "Were he living I would make him a king;" but he did not read him. He read Racine, yet he said nothing of the kind of Racine.

To live in a great idea means to treat the impossible as though it were possible. It is just the same with a strong character; and when an idea and a character meet, things arise which fill the world with wonder for thousands of years.

Judge a man's character by what he finds ridiculous.

As for solitude, I cannot understand how certain people seek to lay claim to intellectual stature, nobility of soul and strength of character, yet have not the slightest feeling for seclusion; for solitude, I maintain, when joined with a quiet contemplation of nature, a serene and conscious faith in creation and the Creator, and a few vexations from outside is the only school for a mind of lofty endowment.

There is nothing by which men display their character so much as in what they consider ridiculous... Fools and sensible men are equally innocuous. It is in the half fools and the half wise that the great danger lies.

Every man must form himself as a particular being, seeking, however, to attain that general idea of which all mankind are constituents.

A talent is formed in stillness, a character in the world’s torrent.

One should not wish anyone disagreeable conditions of life; but for him who is involved in them by chance, they are touchstones of characters and of the most decisive value to man.

Character is constructed amidst the tempests of the World

Character - in things great and small - is indicated when a man (or person) pursues with sustained follow-through what he feels himself capable of doing.

Without my attempts in natural science, I should never have learned to know mankind such as it is. In nothing else can we so closely approach pure contemplation and thought, so closely observe the errors of the senses and of the understanding, the weak and strong points of character.

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.

What a mighty spirit in a narrow bosom. [Ger., Welch' hoher Geist in einer engen Brust.]

Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world. [Ger., Es bildet ein talent sich in der Stille, Sich ein Charakter in dem Strom der Welt.]

I can promise to be upright, but not to be without bias. [Ger., Aufrichtig zu sein kann ich versprechen; unparteiisch zu sein aber nicht.]

In society every man is taken for what he gives himself out to be; but he must give himself out to be something. Better to be slightly disagreeable than altogether insignificant.

We love a girl for very different qualities than understanding. We love her for her beauty, her youth, her mirth, her confidingness, her character, with its faults, caprices and God knows what other inexpressible charms; but we do not love her understanding.

Talent develops in quiet, alone; character is sharpened in the torrent of the world.

Character calls forth character.