--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Passions are vices or virtues to their…" description: "\"Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers.\" — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_character_passions-are-vices-or-virtues-to-their-h_1393929.jpg" --- # Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers. ![“Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_character_passions-are-vices-or-virtues-to-their-h_1393929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_character_passions-are-vices-or-virtues-to-their-h_1393929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_character_passions-are-vices-or-virtues-to-their-h_1393929.jpg) > “Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers.” [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. Passions can be either harmful vices or noble virtues, depending on their intensity and purpose. **In simple terms:** Passions can be good or bad. Key Takeaway Channel passions wisely. Themes ethics psychology human nature morality self‑control Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - artistic creation - conflict resolution - spiritual practice Key Concepts virtue ethics passion theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern a virtue from a vice? - When can passion become destructive? A Different Perspective Excessive passion may lead to imbalance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) ## Related quotes > [Passions are defects or virtues in the highest power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/passions-are-defects-or-virtues-in-the-highest-power/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [No writer besides Shakespeare has created more memorable characters attached to vices and virtues. In even their least sympathetic characters, one senses a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/no-writer-besides-shakespeare-has-created-more-memorable-characters/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [“Might not certain vices have the same relation to character that the rigidity of a fixed idea as to intellect? Whether as a moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/might-not-certain-vices-have-the-same-relation-to-character-that-the/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [“Live by old Ethicks and the classical Rules of Honesty. Put no new names or notions upon Authentick Virtues and Vices. Think not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-thomas-browne/live-by-old-ethicks-and-the-classical-rules-of-honesty-put-no-new/) Sir Thomas Browne > [You who make the laws, the vices and the virtues of the people will be your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/you-who-make-the-laws-the-vices-and-the-virtues-of-the-people-will-be/) [Louis Antoine de Saint-Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/) > [No company is preferable to bad, because we are more apt to catch the vices of others than their virtues, as disease is far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/no-company-is-preferable-to-bad-because-we-are-more-apt-to-catch-the/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Memory's vices are also its virtues, elements of a bridge across time that allows us to link the mind with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-schacter/memory-s-vices-are-also-its-virtues-elements-of-a-bridge-across-time/) Daniel Schacter > [The vices and the virtues are written in a language the world cannot construe; it reads them in a vile translation, and the translators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-vices-and-the-virtues-are-written-in-a-language-the-world-cannot/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/we-are-far-more-liable-to-catch-the-vices-than-the-virtues-of-our/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [ \[On Las Vegas:\] ... The City That Never Sleeps. The City That Sins and Smiles and Lives On the Edge. The city where vices… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kijewski/on-las-vegas-the-city-that-never-sleeps-the-city-that-sins-and-smiles/) [Karen Kijewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kijewski/) > [We eagerly get hold of a law that serves as a weapon to our passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-eagerly-get-hold-of-a-law-that-serves-as-a-weapon-to-our-passions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Great passions are incurable diseases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/great-passions-are-incurable-diseases/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our passions are the true phoenixes; when the old one is burnt out, a new one rises from its ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-passions-are-the-true-phoenixes-when-the-old-one-is-burnt-out-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our virtues and view spring from one root.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-virtues-and-view-spring-from-one-root/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Courage and modesty are the most unequivocal of virtues, for they are of a kind that hypocrisy cannot imitate; they too have this quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/courage-and-modesty-are-the-most-unequivocal-of-virtues-for-they-are/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## 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. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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