Quotes and anectdotes from the wise to the foolish, and the courageous to the drunk

Friedrich Schiller Philosopher

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: Germany
  • Born: Nov 10, 1759
  • Died: May 9, 1805

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life, Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe challenge opponents to their philosophical vision.

No emperor has the power to dictate to the heart. power

Full of wisdom are the ordinations of fate. wisdom

Keep true to the dreams of your youth. dreams

Art is the daughter of freedom. art & freedom

Every true genius is bound to be naive. intelligence

Peace is rarely denied to the peaceful. peace

The history of the world is the world's court of justice. history

Utility is the great idol of the age, to which all powers must do service and all talents swear allegiance. age

He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times. best

In the society, where people are just parts in a larger machine, individuals are unable to develop fully. society

The strong man is strongest when alone. alone

The key to education is the experience of beauty. beauty, education & experience

Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing. hope

Art is the right hand of Nature. The latter has only given us being, the former has made us men. art & nature

Freedom can occur only through education. education & freedom

The will of man is his happiness. happiness

It is difficult to discriminate the voice of truth from amid the clamor raised by heated partisans. truth

Will it, and set to work briskly. work

Aesthetic matters are fundamental for the harmonious development of both society and the individual. society

Lose not yourself in a far off time, seize the moment that is thine. time

Power is the most persuasive rhetoric. power

A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast. wedding

There is room in the smallest cottage for a happy loving pair. love

Grace is the beauty of form under the influence of freedom. beauty, freedom & inspirational

That which is so universal as death must be a benefit. death

They would need to be already wise, in order to love wisdom. wisdom

Happy he who learns to bear what he cannot change. change & happiness

Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on its delight is murder, and its end is despair. food

Mankind is made great or little by its own will. great & inspirational