Book SynopsisThroughout his long, hectic and astonishingly varied life, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (17491832) would jot down his passing thoughts on theatre programmes, visiting cards, draft manuscripts and even bills Goethe was probably the last true Renaissance Man'. Although employed as a Privy Councillor at the Duke of Weimar's court, where he helped oversee major mining, road-building and irrigation projects, he also painted, directed plays, carried out research in anatomy, botany and optics and still found time to produce masterpieces in every literary genre. His fourteen hundred Maxims and Reflections reveal some of his deepest thought on art, ethics, literature and natural science, but also his immediate reactions to books, chance encounters or his administrative work. Although variable in quality, the vast majority have a freshness and immediacy which vividly conjure up Goethe the man. They make an ideal introduction to one of the greatest of European writers.Table of ContentsMaxims and ReflectionsPrefaceIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the TextFROM ELECTIVE AFFINITIES (1809)From Ottilie's DiaryFROM ART AND ANTIQUITYVol. I, issue 3: Naïvety and Humour (1818)Vol. II, issue 3: Matters of Serious Moment (1820)Vol. III, issue 1: Own and Adopted Ideas in Proverbial Formulation (1821)Vol. IV, issue 2: Own and Assimilated Material (1823)Vol. V, issue 1: Individual Points (1824)Vol. V, issue 2: Individual Points (1825)Vol. V, issue 3: Individual Points (1826)Vol. VI, issue 1: [untitled] (1827)FROM THE PERIODICAL ISSUES ON MORPHOLOGYVol. I, issue 4: [untitled] (1822)FROM THE PERIODICAL ISSUES ON THE NATURAL SCIENCESVol. II, issue 1: Old Ideas, Almost out of Date (1823)FROM WILHELM MEISTER'S JOURNEYMAN YEARS (1829)Thoughs about Art, Ethics and Nature in the Spirit of the TravellersFrom Makarie's ArchivePOSTHUMOUSOn Literature and LifeOn Art and Art History: Aphorisms for the Attention of Friends and OpponentsOn Nature and Natural ScienceSketchy, Doubtful, Incomplete JottingsAddenda from the Posthumous PapersNotes
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