Jean Paul Richter

I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.

Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

I can’t understand why a person will take a year to write a novel when he can easily buy one for a few dollars.

How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will.

I’m going to go down and take care of the bill. I’m not going to embarrass you, just let me do it. I had such a great time, I just want it to be my treat. [On returning after several minutes red faced] They won’t take my check, I don’t know what we’re going to do. [Robertson said ‘David, what we’ve spent here, we’re going to have to do a lot of dishes.’] I’m going to call Prince Rupert [Loewenstein] and ask him to call the hotel and tell them I’m good for it. Or maybe he can pay the bill and then I’ll pay him back or something. [Prince Rupert vouched for his credit and the hotel agreed to accept Geffen’s check.]

Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else’s can shorten it.

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.

All systems either of preference or of restraint … completely taken away, the obvious and simple system of natural liberty establishes itself of its own accord. Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest in his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man.

A mistake is to commit a misunderstanding.

The person who reads too much and uses his brain too little will fall into lazy habits of thinking.

Sometimes when reading Goethe I have the paralyzing suspision that he is trying to be funny.

Every lie is a poison; there are no harmless lies. Only the truth is safe. Only the truth gives me consolation – it is the one unbreakable diamond.

I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.

There are people who strictly deprive themselves of each and every eatable, drinkable, and smokable which has in any way acquired a shady reputation. They pay this price for health. And health is all they get for it. How strange it is. It is like paying out your whole fortune for a cow that has gone dry.

I don’t write letters anymore.