"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."
- Goethe
(one of my alltime favorite quotes, just found it, it was tucked away on my harddrive.)
Thanks for sharing it - it *is* a great quote :-)
Posted by: Ben P. | May 25, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Thank you for this great quote. I can honestly say that it is now one of my favorite quotes! I can see it becoming my mantra.
Posted by: Don Kilpatrick | May 27, 2007 at 12:54 PM
it's a lovely quote! but i'm sure that mr goethe never had pms to reckon with :)
Posted by: carla | May 29, 2007 at 04:56 AM
nice quote. Another one from Goethe to the same effect- Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it.
Posted by: niku | June 16, 2007 at 12:11 AM
Am just putting together counselling leaflet and part of this speech is being included on it! Love it - I read it every morning!
Posted by: amanda | August 21, 2007 at 03:15 AM
I am sorry to say, but this quote is not from Goethe. The quote comes from the book "Teacher and Child" by Dr. Haim
Ginott , New York, NY: Collier.
Just check with
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haim_Ginott
Posted by: Stig Arnesen | March 02, 2008 at 04:22 AM
I've been Googling to discern the incredible quote's origin and it would seem that Dr. Haim Ginott's version may be precedent.
But I must say, I even more strongly prefer the version posted above. It takes on so much more power and profound meaning when applied to the self! Speaking for myself.
Posted by: Shelley Noble | January 16, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Very effective quote in the realm of education, but when relating it to the 'true self' or superego against the astral or etherical self it becomes even more powerful. Thanks for posting it - perfect for my research.
Posted by: Henry Lyon | January 18, 2009 at 10:54 AM
great quote. I'm just starting a typography project on the theme of 'speech'. These words have great potential for coming a live of a creatively typeset page. Loving your blog.
Posted by: graeme | January 19, 2009 at 10:22 AM