Who said “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”?

Disputed

It's credited to Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z

Cite this quote

APA

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” [Quotation attributed to Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/15856-things-which-matter-most-must-never-be-at/

MLA

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” Attributed to Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/15856-things-which-matter-most-must-never-be-at/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” Attributed to Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/15856-things-which-matter-most-must-never-be-at/.

Related quotes

“The things which are most important don't always scream the loudest.”
— Bob Hawke
Importance

More quotes by Goethe

“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.”
VerifiedLetter to A. F. Oeser (9 November 1768), Early and miscellaneous letters of J. W. Goethe, including letters to his mother. With notes and a short biography (1884) · evidenceDetails & citeMotivation
“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.”
VerifiedWilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre (Apprenticeship) (1786–1830) · evidenceDetails & citeCulture
All 313 Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe quotes →