Quotes & anectdotes from
the wise,
the foolish,
the courageous &
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.

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

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

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

Art is the daughter of freedom.

The will of man is his happiness.

Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing.

Keep true to the dreams of your youth.

Every true genius is bound to be naive.

Will it, and set to work briskly.

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

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

Freedom can occur only through education.

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

No emperor has the power to dictate to the heart.

Mankind is made great or little by its own will.

Full of wisdom are the ordinations of fate.

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

Peace is rarely denied to the peaceful.

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

A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast.

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

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

The strong man is strongest when alone.

Grace is the beauty of form under the influence of freedom.

The key to education is the experience of beauty.

Power is the most persuasive rhetoric.

Happy he who learns to bear what he cannot change.

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

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