Nothing is worse than active ignorance.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

About Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Portrait of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on literary, political, Christian views, and philosophical thought in the Western world from the late...

More quotations from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When ideas fail, words come in very handy.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Against criticism a man can neither protest nor defend himself; he must act in spite of it, and then it will gradually yield to him.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Anecdotes and maxims are rich treasures to the man of the world, for he knows how to introduce the former at fit place in conversation.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

More quotations tagged with “ignorance”

It is impossible to make people understand their ignorance; for it requires knowledge to perceive it and therefore he that can perceive it hath it not.

—Jeremy Taylor

My whole career can be summed up with 'Ignorance is bliss.' When you do not know better, you do not really worry about failing.

—Jeff Foxworthy

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom.

—Hugo De Groot

It is better to confess ignorance than provide it.

—Homer Hickam

Ignorance gives one a large range of probabilities.

—George Eliot

History

11 Jul 2015 Added