The Quotes of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Born: 8/28/1749 12:00:00 AM Died: 3/22/1832 12:00:00 AM

There is an equality which is taught in Masonry, the true equality, the inner life of God which makes all men equal.

It is no good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.

To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.

The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.

Freemasonry, as a tradition, is built on the spoken word. It is a mystic tradition that has been passed down from lip to hear across the centuries. It acknowledges the power of language to transform the mind of the individual and even the course of history itself. Throughout history, great changes in civilizations and the rise and fall of empires have depended on a few words, spoken into the right ear at the right time. Freemasonry places great importance on remembering the thoughts of our ancestors. It is from these thoughts that we can learn how to navigate the maze of life and avoid the pitfalls that have entrapped the unfortunate. The Masons below have all contributed to the wisdom of the world and we have selected a small portion of their knowledge to be shared here to inspire, uplift and educate.