All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of actual life springs ever green.

Grau, teurer Freund, ist alle Theorie, und grun des Lebens goldner Baum.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Faust

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More information about this quote

Topic

Life

Speaker

Mephistopheles

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Source

Faust

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play) Tragedy

Language

German

Time

1808 1800s 19th century

Occupation

Writer

From

Germany Europe

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. "Studiezimmer [Study Room]." Faust. Eine Tragödie [Faust: A Tragedy]. Tübingen: J. G. Cotta’schen Buchhandlung, 1808.

Current Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. "Study Room." Faust, Part One, edited by David Luke. Oxford University Press, 2008.

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A quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about life: “All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of actual life…”
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A quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about life: “All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of actual life…”
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A quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about life: “All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of actual life…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There is a strong shadow where there is much light.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

More information about this quote
Topic
Light and shadow Contrasts Yin and yang
Speaker
Gotz von Berlichingen

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
German
Time
1773 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Gotz von Berlichingen. 1773, act 1.

Another quote from the 1800s

Who strives always to the utmost,
For him there is salvation.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Faust

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More information about this quote
Topic
Going for it Doing one's best

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Source
Faust
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play) Tragedy
Language
German
Time
1808 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faust. Der Tragödie zweiter Teil [Faust. The Tragedy's Second Part]. 1832, act 5.

Current Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faust: Part Two, translated by David Luke. Oxford University Press, 2008, act 5.

Another quote about Life

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

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More information about this quote
Topic
Timing Life
Source
Ecclesiastes The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
931 BC 930s BC 10th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

Another quote originally in German

Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has: it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but-more frequently than not-struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.

Martin Luther

More information about this quote
Topic
Faith and reason Reason

Author

Martin Luther
Source
Table Talk (Luther)
Language
German
Time
1569 1560s 16th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Luther, Martin. Tischreden [Table Talk]. Eisleben, 1566.

Current Citation

Luther, Martin. The Table Talk of Martin Luther, edited by Thomas S. Kepler. Dover Press, 2005.