Michael Ende quotes

Michael Ende was a German author, renowned for his imaginative works of fantasy literature. His books, including "The Neverending Story" and "Momo," have captivated readers of all ages around the world. He is acclaimed for his ability to blend philosophical themes with magical storytelling. Here are 29 of his quotes:

When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts.

Michael Ende

Those who still think that listening isn't an art should see if they can do it half as well.

Michael Ende

Lots of things take time, and time was Momo's only form of wealth.

Michael Ende

Every real story is a never ending story.

Michael Ende

Time is life itself, and life resides in the human heart.

Michael Ende

Without a past you can't have a future.

Michael Ende

Once someone dreams a dream, it can't just drop out of existence. But if the dreamer can't remember it, what becomes of it?

Michael Ende

Maybe all the people who say ghosts don't exist are just afraid to admit that they do.

Michael Ende

What I've started I must finish. I've gone too far to turn back. Regardless of what may happen, I have to go forward.

Michael Ende

Life holds one great but quite commonplace mystery. Though shared by each of us and known to all, seldom rates a second thought. That mystery, which most of us take for granted and never think twice about, is time.

Michael Ende

Momo listened to everyone and everything - even to the rain and the wind and the pine trees - and all of them spoke to her after their own fashion.

Michael Ende

My will can control anything that's empty.

Michael Ende

In the ancient cultural places of the world there was a temple, a church or a cathedral in its center. From there came the order of life. In every modern big city there is a bank building in its center. In my »Pied Piper« I have tried to depict this as a kind of demon cult, where money is something to be prayed to like something sacred. It's even being expressed there in words that it is »God«. It performs miracles, because the multiplication of money itself is yet a miracle. After all, the dealings there are with a miraculous multiplication of money. It has the character of everlastingness. But if there is anything that is just a purely man-made thing, then it's money.

Michael Ende

Time is Life.

Michael Ende

He had been through a good deal in the course of the Great Quest - he had seen beautiful things and horrible things - but up until now he had not known that one and the same creature can be both, that beauty can be terrifying.

Michael Ende

You must let what happens happen. Everything must be equal in your eyes, good and evil, beautiful and ugly, foolish and wise.

Michael Ende

There are many kinds of joy, but they all lead to one: the joy to be loved.

Michael Ende

But that is another story and shall be told another time.

Michael Ende

There were thousands and thousands of forms of joy in the world, but that all were essentially one and the same, namely, the joy of being able to love.

Michael Ende

Wishes cannot be summoned up or kept away at will. They come from deeper within us than good or bad intentions. And they spring up unannounced.

Michael Ende

Human passions have mysterious ways, in children as well as grown-ups. Those affected by them can't explain them, and those who haven't known them have no understanding of them at all.

Michael Ende

A story can be new and yet tell about olden times. The past comes into existence with the story.

Michael Ende