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Friedrich Schiller Quotes

Friedrich Schiller Quote: There's no such thing as chance; and what to us seems merest accident...
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There's no such thing as chance;
And what to us seems merest accident
Springs from the deepest source of destiny

Friedrich Schiller. (Wallenstein, 1798)

Nothing leads to good that is not natural.

Friedrich Schiller (Quoted in Schiller's Complete Works, 1861)

The heavy heart will not grow light with talking.

Friedrich Schiller (Wilhelm Tell, 1803)

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

Friedrich Schiller

The world is ruled only by consideration of advantages. 

Friedrich Schiller

The dream is short, repentance long.

Friedrich Schiller (Song of the Bell, 1798)

A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished.

Friedrich Schiller (Quoted in Gems for the Fireside, 1883)

Whatever is not forbidden is permitted.

Friedrich Schiller (Wallenstein, 1798)

O the idea was childish, but divinely beautiful.

Friedrich Schiller (Don Carlos, 1787)

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

Friedrich Schiller

What's old collapses, times change,
And new life blossoms in the ruins.

Friedrich Schiller (Wilhelm Tell, 1803)

Wouldst thou know thyself, observe the actions of others.
Wouldst thou other men know, look thou within thine own heart.

Friedrich Schiller (Votive Tablets, 1796)

Virtue has her heroes too
As well as Fame and Fortune.

Friedrich Schiller (Wallenstein, 1798)

A loving heart finds ordinary nature too narrow, and a deeper meaning lies in fairy tales told in my childhood years, than in the truth we are taught in life.

Friedrich Schiller (Wallenstein, 1798)

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

Friedrich Schiller (Wallenstein, 1798)

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

Friedrich Schiller (On the Aesthetic Education of Man, 1794)

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

Friedrich Schiller (Quoted in Gems of Thought, 1888)

The dignity of mankind is in your hands; protect it!
It sinks with you! With you it will ascend.

Friedrich Schiller (The Artists)

What one refuses in a minute
No eternity will return.

Friedrich Schiller (Resignation, 1786)

Man is created free, and is free,
Though he be born in chains.

Friedrich Schiller (The Word of the Faithful, 1797)

As freely as the firmament embraces the world, or the sun pours forth impartially his beams, so mercy must encircle both friend and foe.

Friedrich Schiller (The Maid of Orleans, 1801)

On the mountains there is freedom!
The world is perfect everywhere,
Save where man comes with his torment.

Friedrich Schiller (The Bride of Messina, 1803)

Rarely do we arrive at the summit of truth without running into extremes; we have frequently to exhaust the part of error, and even of folly, before we work our way up to the noble goal of tranquil wisdom.

Friedrich Schiller (The Philosophical Letters)

Around, around, Companions all, take your ground, And name the bell with joy profound! Concordia is the world we've found Most meet to express the harmonious sound, That calls to those in friendship bound.

Friedrich Schiller (Song of the Bell, 1798)

Friedrich Schiller Quote: Don't let your heart depend on things...

Don't let your heart depend on things
That ornament life in a fleeting way!
He who possesses, let him learn to lose,
He who is fortunate, let him learn pain.

Friedrich Schiller (The Bride of Messina, 1803)

There are three lessons I would write,
Three words - as with a burning pen,
In tracings of eternal light
Upon the hearts of men.
   Have Hope. Though clouds environ now,
And gladness hides her face in scorn,
Put thou the shadow from thy brow,
No night but hath its morn.
   Have Faith. Where'er thy bark is driven,
The calm's disport, the tempest's mirth,
Know this: God rules the hosts of heaven,
The habitants of earth.
   Have Love. Not love alone for one,
But men, as man, thy brothers call;
And scatter, like the circling sun,
Thy charities on all.
   Thus grave these lessons on thy soul,
Hope, Faith, and Love, - and thou shalt find
Strength when life's surges rudest roll,
Light when thou else wert blind.

Friedrich Schiller (Hope, Faith and Love, 1786)

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Friedrich Schiller Biography

Born: November 10, 1759
Died: May 9, 1805

Friedrich Schiller was a German poet, writer and philosopher. He is mostly famous for his playwrights and his philosophy. His friendship with Goethe also gained him popularity.

Notable Works

The Robbers (1781)
Fiesco (1783)
Intrigue and Love (1784)
Don Carlos (1787)
Wallenstein (1798)
Mary Stuart (1800)
The Made of Orleans (1801)
The Brids of Messina (1803)
Wilhelm Tell (1803)
Demetrius (1804-1805, unfinished work)
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