--- title: "8 Treat Quotes By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" description: "8 Treat quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Plus more from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and more Treat sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_identity_if-your-treat-an-individual-as-if-he-wer_92741.jpg" --- > [If your treat an individual... as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-your-treat-an-individual-as-if-he-were-what-he-ought-to-be-and/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_identity_if-your-treat-an-individual-as-if-he-wer_92741.jpg) > [If you want someone to develop a specific trait, treat them as though they already had it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-you-want-someone-to-develop-a-specific-trait-treat-them-as-though/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_develop_if-you-want-someone-to-develop-a-specifi_345799.jpg) > [“If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-you-treat-an-individual-as-he-is-he-will-remain-how-he-is-but-if/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_identity_if-you-treat-an-individual-as-he-is-he-w_871563.jpg) > [Treat a person as they are, they will remain so. Treat a person the way that person can be and is capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/treat-a-person-as-they-are-they-will-remain-so-treat-a-person-the-way/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_capable_treat-a-person-as-they-are-they-will-rem_966220.jpg) > [The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-way-you-see-people-is-the-way-you-treat-them-and-the-way-you/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_people_the-way-you-see-people-is-the-way-you-tr_1720236.jpg) > [“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you'll help them to become what they are capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/treat-people-as-if-they-were-what-they-ought-to-be-and-you-ll-help/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_capable_treat-people-as-if-they-were-what-they-o_2289822.jpg) > [Treat a man as if he were what he ought to be and you help him become what he is capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/treat-a-man-as-if-he-were-what-he-ought-to-be-and-you-help-him-become/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_capable_treat-a-man-as-if-he-were-what-he-ought_2660821.jpg) > [Treat people the way they are and they will stay that way. Treat people the way they can become and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/treat-people-the-way-they-are-and-they-will-stay-that-way-treat/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_people_treat-people-the-way-they-are-and-they-w_3116038.jpg) ## Other authors on Treat ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treat/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/#itemlist", "name": "8 Treat Quotes By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If your treat an individual... as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-your-treat-an-individual-as-if-he-were-what-he-ought-to-be-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_identity_if-your-treat-an-individual-as-if-he-wer_92741.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_identity_if-your-treat-an-individual-as-if-he-wer_92741.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_identity_if-your-treat-an-individual-as-if-he-wer_92741.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If your treat an individual... as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought…” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want someone to develop a specific trait, treat them as though they already had it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-you-want-someone-to-develop-a-specific-trait-treat-them-as-though/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_develop_if-you-want-someone-to-develop-a-specifi_345799.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_develop_if-you-want-someone-to-develop-a-specifi_345799.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_develop_if-you-want-someone-to-develop-a-specifi_345799.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want someone to develop a specific trait, treat them as though they already had it.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. 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