Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

1749–1832 · German poet, novelist & statesman

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) was the dominant figure of German letters — poet, novelist, dramatist, natural scientist, and privy councillor at the court of Weimar. He worked on the Wilhelm Meister novels for most of his adult life, and in old age reshaped the second one into a loose, essayistic book studded with standalone aphorisms. This line comes from that late, restless phase: Goethe the administrator and experimentalist, impatient with knowledge that never turns into work.

Traced to source

3 quotes we’ve traced to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do”

Verified

“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture”

Verified

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do”

Disputed

Not actually Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Often misattributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Famous lines widely pinned on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that we’ve traced to someone else.

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good”

actually Malcolm Forbes / the Ann Landers columns

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it”

actually John Anster

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