Goethe On The Importance Of Having Lofty Goals

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) is regarded as one of the most brilliant thinkers to ever live. He was a poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His unique life included everything from studying law to having private meetings with Napoleon to creating masterpieces like Faust and even publishing a theory of colours.

Not many have lived as fully and have had as many rich life experiences as Goethe. Many of the lessons he learned along the way were jotted down in his book: Maxims and Reflections. A section of that book pertains to the importance of chasing lofty goals and how that might be the best way to discover one’s life purpose.

“But the strangest error is that relating to ourselves and to our potential so that we devote our efforts to a worthy task, an honourable enterprise which is beyond our scope, reaching out for a goal we can never attain. Everyone feels the resulting Tantalus-Sisyphus torment the more bitterly the more upright has been his intention. And yet, very often when we see ourselves for ever separated from what we had intended to achieve, we have already, on our way, found something else worth desiring, something conforming to our nature with which we were, in fact, born to rest content.”

What do you really want out of life? What will truly make you feel fulfilled?

The answer to such questions won’t appear to you if you spend your time just sitting around and chasing fleeting pleasure. Rather, to figure out what you want in life is a process of discovery.

Or perhaps a process of elimination.

By setting your aim toward lofty and difficult ventures and setting out to achieve those goals, you might discover a route in that path, a detour of sorts, that takes you toward something that truly meshes with your nature.

But this discovery would never be possible unless you act upon higher intentions.

An important part of this discovery is to know when to stop and take a different route. Often, we attach our sense of self worth, our ego, our reputation to a goal. Especially if we have shared that goal with others. It’s almost an obligation at that point. The goal becomes a burden and you don’t allow yourself the flexibility to discover different paths.

But we must be willing to breathe life into other interests along the way. Especially the ones which stir something in your soul.

“Now because action is always a decisive factor, something really good can result from an active error, because the effect of all that has been done reaches out into infinity. So although creative action is certainly always best, destroying what has been done is also not without happy consequence.”

Our actions create our lives. Whether it is a life we enjoy or not. Or perhaps we once enjoyed that life but don’t anymore. The only way to move on and create another path is through more decisive action.

One thing that can get in the way of our actions is the opinions of other people. Especially when those opinions pertain to ourselves.

“Through Cardinal Richelieu’s despotic unreasonableness, Corneille had lost faith in himself.”

Other people’s actions, opinions, expectations, and behaviours can affect our self belief and understanding. There are some who have been defeated by life and either out of spite or out of care, will try to hold you back from achieving your lofty goals.

While there are others, who might have been defeated or they might have achieved their goals, but they understand the value of the attempt and wish to help you attempt your goals as well.

The latter are special individuals. They energize you. The former take away your energy. So, have to be careful to whom you give power too, to whose words energize or de-energize your being.

However, another person we have to be careful of is ourselves. There is no one who will crush your dreams and stop you from discovering your purpose than your own mind.

“When a man reflects on his physical or moral state, he usually decides that he is ill.”

The negative aspects of yourself stand out more. Your mind goes to what you can do better, why you can improve, and what you lack rather than having a balanced approach to who you are. Don’t let your opinions of yourself or your thoughts burden you constantly.

It’s like Schopenhauer when he talked about how a pebble in the shoe will attract your attention even though you may be living a good and happy life at the moment. Meaning that, 99% of your life can be going well, but your mind will be stuck on that 1% that isn’t and such a thing will rot you from the inside.

But when times do get difficult, there are two things to remember.

“A last violent cloud of dust whirls round once before a thunderstorm, soon to be stilled for a long time.”

Nothing lasts forever.

Lastly, a reminder to stay vigilant. To keep the foot on the pedal.

“Difficulties increase the nearer we get to the goal.”

Originally published at http://learnedlivingorg.wordpress.com on January 13, 2024.