---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It makes me wretched, Wilhelm, to think…"
description: "\"“It makes me wretched, Wilhelm, to think that there should be men incapable of appreciating the few things which possess a real value in life.”\" — Joha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_life_it-makes-me-wretched-wilhelm-to-think-th_966619.jpg"
---

#  It makes me wretched, Wilhelm, to think that there should…

![“It makes me wretched, Wilhelm, to think that there should be men incapable of appreciating the few things which possess a real value in life.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_life_it-makes-me-wretched-wilhelm-to-think-th_966619.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_life_it-makes-me-wretched-wilhelm-to-think-th_966619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_life_it-makes-me-wretched-wilhelm-to-think-th_966619.jpg)

> ““It makes me wretched, Wilhelm, to think that there should be men incapable of appreciating the few things which possess a real value in life.””

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker laments that many cannot value true, simple virtues, leading to a shallow life.

**In simple terms:** People often miss genuine worth.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate appreciation for simple, valuable things.

Themes

values appreciation materialism philosophy

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily life
- education
- art criticism

Key Concepts

ethics human nature

Questions to Reflect On

- What truly valuable things do you cherish?
- How can you teach appreciation?

A Different Perspective

Not all may share this perspective.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Real value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-value/)

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