Friedrich Schiller quotes

Friedrich Schiller was a renowned German poet, playwright, and philosopher of the Classical period. His dramatic works and philosophical writings had a profound impact on German literature and intellectual life. He remains celebrated for masterpieces such as "William Tell" and his enduring friendship with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Here are 186 of his quotes:

Great souls endure in silence.

Friedrich Schiller

Whatever is not forbidden is permitted.

Friedrich Schiller

Votes should be weighed not counted.

Friedrich Schiller

The universe is a thought of God.

Friedrich Schiller

To save all we must risk all.

Friedrich Schiller

The strong man is strongest when alone.

Friedrich Schiller

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

Friedrich Schiller

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

Friedrich Schiller

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

Friedrich Schiller

A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast.

Friedrich Schiller

I am better than my reputation.

Friedrich Schiller

With stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain.

Friedrich Schiller

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

Friedrich Schiller

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.

Friedrich Schiller

When the wine goes in, strange things come out.

Friedrich Schiller

To one, science is an exalted goddess; to another it is a cow which provides him with butter.

Friedrich Schiller

I feel an army in my fist.

Friedrich Schiller

Keep true to the dreams of your youth.

Friedrich Schiller

No cause has he to say his doom is harsh, Who's made the master of his destiny.

Friedrich Schiller

O tender yearning, sweet hoping! The golden time of first love! The eye sees the open heaven, The heart is intoxicated with bliss; O that the beautiful time of young love Could remain green forever.

Friedrich Schiller

Joy, thou spark from Heav'n immortal, Daughter of Elysium! Drunk with fire, toward Heaven advancing Goddess, to thy shrine we come. Thy sweet magic brings together What stern Custom spreads afar; All men become brothers Where thy happy wing-beats are.

Friedrich Schiller

I speak with the Eternal through the instrument of nature, - through the world's history: I read the soul of the artist in his Apollo.

Friedrich Schiller