The Sorrows of Young Werther Quotes

There would be far less suffering amongst mankind, if men—and God knows why they are so fashioned—did not employ their imaginations so assiduously in recalling the memory of past sorrow, instead of bearing their present lot with equanimity.

The suffering may be moral or physical; and in my opinion it is just as absurd to call a man a coward who destroys himself, as to call a man a coward who dies of a malignant fever.

The human race is but a monotonous affair. Most of them labour the greater part of their time for mere subsistence; and the scanty portion of freedom which remains to them so troubles them that they use every exertion to get rid of it.

He values my understanding and talents more highly than my heart, but I am proud of the latter only. It is the sole source of everything of our strength, happiness, and misery. All the knowledge I possess every one else can acquire, but my heart is exclusively my own.

Misunderstandings and neglect occasion more mischief in the world than even malice and wickedness.

Heavens! what a torment it is to see so much loveliness passing and repassing before us, and yet not dare to lay hold of it!

God of heaven! and is this the destiny of man? Is he only happy before he has acquired his reason, or after he has lost it?

All learned professors and doctors are agreed that children do not comprehend the cause of their desires; but that the grown-up should wander about this earth like children, without knowing whence they come, or whither they go, influenced as little by fixed motives, but guided like them by biscuits, sugar-plums, and the rod, this is what nobody is willing to acknowledge; and yet I think it is palpable.

All extraordinary men, who have accomplished great and astonishing actions, have ever been decried by the world as drunken or insane.