Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ( 10 of 179 )
 Culture which smooth the whole world licks,
 Also unto the devil sticks.
  [Ger., Auch die Kultur, die read more 
 Culture which smooth the whole world licks,
 Also unto the devil sticks.
  [Ger., Auch die Kultur, die alle Welt beleckt,
   Hat auf den Teufel sich erstreckt.] 
The coward threatens when he is safe.
The coward threatens when he is safe.
 Too rigid scruples are concealed pride.
 [Ger., Zu strenge Ford'rung ist verborgner Stolz.]  
 Too rigid scruples are concealed pride.
 [Ger., Zu strenge Ford'rung ist verborgner Stolz.] 
 No, no! The devil is an egotist,
 And is not apt, without why or wherefore,
  "For God's read more 
 No, no! The devil is an egotist,
 And is not apt, without why or wherefore,
  "For God's sake," others to assist.
   [Ger., Nein, nein! Der Teufel ist ein Egoist
    Und thut nicht leicht um Gottes Willen,
     Was einem Andern nutzlich ist.] 
 You'll never attain it unless you know the feeling.
 [Ger., Wenn ihr's nicht fuhlt ihr werdet's nicht erjagen.]  
 You'll never attain it unless you know the feeling.
 [Ger., Wenn ihr's nicht fuhlt ihr werdet's nicht erjagen.] 
All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think read more
All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience.
 There was a king of Thule,
 Was faithful till the grave,
  To whom his mistress dying,
 read more 
 There was a king of Thule,
 Was faithful till the grave,
  To whom his mistress dying,
   A golden goblet gave.
    [Ger., Es war ein Konig in Tule
     Gar treu bis an das Grab,
      Dem sterbend seine Buhle
       Einen gold'nen Becher gab.] 
 I wish the crowd to feel itself well treated,
 Especially since it lives and lets me live.
  read more 
 I wish the crowd to feel itself well treated,
 Especially since it lives and lets me live.
  [Ger., Ich wunschte sehr, der Menge zu behagen,
   Besonders weil sie lebt und leben lasst.] 
He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home
He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home
It is in self-imitation that a master first shows himself.
It is in self-imitation that a master first shows himself.