Friedrich Schiller's Quotes

Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he plays.

No doubt the artist is the child of his time; but woe to him if he is also its disciple, or even its favorite.

No emperor has the power to dictate to the heart.

Not without a shudder may the human hand reach into the mysterious urn of destiny.

Of all the possessions of this life fame is the noblest; when the body has sunk into the dust the great name still lives.

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

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

The greater part of humanity is too much harassed and fatigued by the struggle with want, to rally itself for a new and sterner struggle with error.

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

The jest loses its point when he who makes it is the first to laugh.

The key to education is the experience of beauty.

The will of man is his happiness.

The world is ruled only by consideration of advantages.

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

Votes should be weighed not counted.

Worthless is the nation that does not gladly stake its all on its honor.

Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower are the three factors which motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer comprise the threefold basis of action.

Keep true to the dreams of your youth.

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

Every true genius is bound to be naive.

Happy he who learns to bear what he cannot change.

Disappointments are to the soul what a thunderstorm is to the air.

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

Mankind is made great or little by its own will.

Against stupidity the very gods themselves contend in vain.

It is criminal to steal a purse, daring to steal a fortune, a mark of greatness to steal a crown. The blame diminishes as the guilt increases.

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

Dare to err and to dream. Deep meaning often lies in childish plays.

Peace is rarely denied to the peaceful.

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

Art is the daughter of freedom.

Great souls suffer in silence.

Nothing leads to good that is not natural.

Appearance rules the world.

Freedom can occur only through education.

Be noble minded! Our own heart, and not other men's opinions of us, forms our true honor.

It does not prove a thing to be right because the majority say it is so.

Will it, and set to work briskly.

There is no such thing as chance; and what seem to us merest accident springs from the deepest source of destiny.

Honesty prospers in every condition of life.

The universe is one of God's thoughts.

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