--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know very well what Goethe meant when…" description: "\"I know very well what Goethe meant when he said that he never had a chagrin but he made a poem out of it. I have altogether too much patience of this k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/henry-david-thoreau-20_chagrin_i-know-very-well-what-goethe-meant-when_420432.jpg" --- # I know very well what Goethe meant when he said that he… ![“I know very well what Goethe meant when he said that he never had a chagrin but he made a poem out of it. I have altogether too much patience of this kind.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/henry-david-thoreau-20_chagrin_i-know-very-well-what-goethe-meant-when_420432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/henry-david-thoreau-20_chagrin_i-know-very-well-what-goethe-meant-when_420432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/henry-david-thoreau-20_chagrin_i-know-very-well-what-goethe-meant-when_420432.jpg) > “I know very well what Goethe meant when he said that he never had a chagrin but he made a poem out of it. I have altogether too much patience of this kind.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoreau reflects on Goethe’s ability to transform sorrow into poetry, noting his own excess of patience without creative output. **In simple terms:** Patience without purpose is wasted. Key Takeaway Channel patience into creative expression. Themes creativity patience reflection Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal journaling - writing practice - mindful observation - emotional processing Key Concepts Stoicism artistic transformation Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn waiting into creation? - What small poem could you write today? A Different Perspective Patience alone does not guarantee meaningful results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chagrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chagrin/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [“We see only what we know.   —Goethe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton-m-d/we-see-only-what-we-know-goethe/) Robert Burton M.D > [Goethe died in 1832. As you know, Goethe was very active in science. In fact, he did some very good scientific work in plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/goethe-died-in-1832-as-you-know-goethe-was-very-active-in-science-in/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/silence-is-the-universal-refuge-the-sequel-to-all-dull-discourses-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/silence-is-the-universal-refuge-the-sequel-to-all-dull-discourses-and-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What has happened in the last generation is that Tijuana has become a new Third World capital - much to the chagrin of Mexico…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/what-has-happened-in-the-last-generation-is-that-tijuana-has-become-a/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [I decided during my teens that I wasn't going to have the life of a concert pianist, much to the chagrin of a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cy-coleman/i-decided-during-my-teens-that-i-wasn-t-going-to-have-the-life-of-a/) [Cy Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cy-coleman/) > [Differences in political opinions are as unavoidable as, to a certain point, they may perhaps be necessary; but it is exceedingly to be regretted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/differences-in-political-opinions-are-as-unavoidable-as-to-a-certain/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [As the reflections of our pride upon our defects are bitter, disheartening, and vexatious, so the return of the soul towards God is peaceful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/as-the-reflections-of-our-pride-upon-our-defects-are-bitter/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [I think that the church has to develop its own agenda, and not allow itself to be consumed by either party to the chagrin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-think-that-the-church-has-to-develop-its-own-agenda-and-not-allow/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Physical pain is easily forgotten, but a moral chagrin lasts indefinitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/physical-pain-is-easily-forgotten-but-a-moral-chagrin-lasts/) [Santiago Ramon y Cajal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/) > [“Judge of my chagrin and all that sort of thing, therefore, when, tottering to my room and switching on the light, I observed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/judge-of-my-chagrin-and-all-that-sort-of-thing-therefore-when/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [Children of the middle years do not do their learning unaffected by attendant feelings of interest, boredom, success, failure, chagrin, joy, humiliation, pleasure, distress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-h-cohen/children-of-the-middle-years-do-not-do-their-learning-unaffected-by/) [Dorothy H Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-h-cohen/) > [Men and women aren't really dogs: they only look like it and behave like it. Somewhere inside there is a great chagrin and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/men-and-women-aren-t-really-dogs-they-only-look-like-it-and-behave/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [...most men have bound their eyes with one or another handkerchief, and attached themselves to some one of these communities of opinion. This conformity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/most-men-have-bound-their-eyes-with-one-or-another-handkerchief-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [As he was pummeled into one tight spot after another, emerging each time breathless and in amazed chagrin, Bryan flushed, with spots of anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-haldeman-julius/as-he-was-pummeled-into-one-tight-spot-after-another-emerging-each/) [E. Haldeman-Julius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-haldeman-julius/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Chagrin quotes > [Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/silence-is-the-universal-refuge-the-sequel-to-all-dull-discourses-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I decided during my teens that I wasn't going to have the life of a concert pianist, much to the chagrin of a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cy-coleman/i-decided-during-my-teens-that-i-wasn-t-going-to-have-the-life-of-a/) [Cy Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cy-coleman/) > [“Judge of my chagrin and all that sort of thing, therefore, when, tottering to my room and switching on the light, I observed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/judge-of-my-chagrin-and-all-that-sort-of-thing-therefore-when/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [What has happened in the last generation is that Tijuana has become a new Third World capital - much to the chagrin of Mexico…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/what-has-happened-in-the-last-generation-is-that-tijuana-has-become-a/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [...most men have bound their eyes with one or another handkerchief, and attached themselves to some one of these communities of opinion. This conformity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/most-men-have-bound-their-eyes-with-one-or-another-handkerchief-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Men and women aren't really dogs: they only look like it and behave like it. Somewhere inside there is a great chagrin and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/men-and-women-aren-t-really-dogs-they-only-look-like-it-and-behave/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Children of the middle years do not do their learning unaffected by attendant feelings of interest, boredom, success, failure, chagrin, joy, humiliation, pleasure, distress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-h-cohen/children-of-the-middle-years-do-not-do-their-learning-unaffected-by/) [Dorothy H Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-h-cohen/) > [As he was pummeled into one tight spot after another, emerging each time breathless and in amazed chagrin, Bryan flushed, with spots of anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-haldeman-julius/as-he-was-pummeled-into-one-tight-spot-after-another-emerging-each/) [E. Haldeman-Julius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-haldeman-julius/) > [Physical pain is easily forgotten, but a moral chagrin lasts indefinitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/physical-pain-is-easily-forgotten-but-a-moral-chagrin-lasts/) [Santiago Ramon y Cajal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/) > [I think that the church has to develop its own agenda, and not allow itself to be consumed by either party to the chagrin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-think-that-the-church-has-to-develop-its-own-agenda-and-not-allow/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [As the reflections of our pride upon our defects are bitter, disheartening, and vexatious, so the return of the soul towards God is peaceful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/as-the-reflections-of-our-pride-upon-our-defects-are-bitter/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Differences in political opinions are as unavoidable as, to a certain point, they may perhaps be necessary; but it is exceedingly to be regretted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/differences-in-political-opinions-are-as-unavoidable-as-to-a-certain/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Nothing is so intolerable to man as being fully at rest, without passion, without business, without entertainment, without care. It is then that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/nothing-is-so-intolerable-to-man-as-being-fully-at-rest-without/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The press in America has never been stronger and never been freer and never been more vibrant, sometimes to my chagrin, and a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-press-in-america-has-never-been-stronger-and-never-been-freer-and/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/silence-is-the-universal-refuge-the-sequel-to-all-dull-discourses-and-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 33 Chagrin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chagrin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know very well what Goethe meant when he said that he never had a chagrin but he made a poem out of it. 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