Maxims and reflections

Throughout his extraordinary life, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) recorded his thoughts on theatre programs, visiting cards, and even bills. He epitomized the 'Renaissance Man,' balancing his role as a Privy Councillor at the Duke of Weimar’s court with diverse pursuits, including painting, directing plays, and conducting research in various scientific fields. Despite his busy schedule, he produced masterpieces across all literary genres. His fourteen hundred Maxims and Reflections encapsulate profound insights on art, ethics, literature, and natural science, as well as spontaneous reactions to books and encounters. While the quality of these reflections varies, most possess a freshness that vividly illustrates Goethe's character, offering an engaging introduction to one of Europe's literary giants. For over seventy years, Penguin has been a premier publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, boasting more than 1,700 titles that form a global bookshelf of historical and genre-spanning works. Readers rely on this series for authoritative texts, enriched by introductions and notes from esteemed scholars and contemporary authors, alongside modern translations by award-winning translators.