What's great about Goethe? Lots! Here's my personal favorite from "Italienische Reise," his memoir of travels in Italy. It describes his intellectual awakening

What's great about Goethe? Lots! Here's my personal favorite from "Italienische Reise," his memoir of travels in Italy. It describes his intellectual awakening through study of the art of Italy, especially Rome. > Ich habe viel gesehen und noch mehr gedacht: Die Welt eröffnet sich mehr und mehr, auch alles, was ich schon lange weiß, wird mir erst eigen. Welch ein früh wissendes und spät übendes Geschöpf ist doch der Mensch! I have seen much and thought still more: the world is opening up more and more. Even all those things I have long known are finally becoming part of me. What a creature is man: So early to gain knowledge, so late to use it!