Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience.
Down on the lake rosy reflections of celestial vapor appeared, and I said, "God, I love you" and looked to the sky and really meant it. "I have fallen in love with you, God. Take care of us all, one way or the other." To the children and the innocent it's all the same.
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
Successful people don't have fewer problems. They have determined that nothing will stop them from going forward.
No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar.
It seems that bad advice that's fun will always be better known than than good advice that's dull-no matter how useless that fun advice is.
The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel a pleasure in the reverse. And those who despair to rise in distinction by their virtues, are happy if others can be depressed to a level of themselves.
Sometimes when reading Goethe I have a paralyzing suspicion that he is trying to be funny.
All legislation, all government, all society is founded upon the principle of mutual concession, politeness, comity, courtesy; upon these everything is based...Let him who elevates himself above humanity, above its weaknesses, its infirmities, its wants, its necessities, say, if he pleases, I will never compromise; but let no one who is not above the frailties of our common nature disdain compromises.