Desire Quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“I examine my own being, and find there a world, but a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power. Then everything swims before my senses, and I smile and dream while pursuing my way through the world.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Faust, Part I, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1808
The speaker reflects that inner life is a realm of imagination and subtle desires, more vivid than external reality, leading to a dreamy, contemplative journey.
In simple terms: Inner imagination outweighs external reality.
Key Takeaway
Embrace inner imagination.
Themes
self‑reflection
imagination
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
dreamy
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- meditation
- artistic inspiration
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existentialism
subjectivity
dreamscape
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance imagination with tangible goals?
- What desires shape your inner world?
A Different Perspective
May overlook practical action in favor of daydreaming.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
