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Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre

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From Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years (Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre, 1821, revised 1829), a late novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), the German poet, novelist, scientist and Weimar statesman. The line sits in ‘Aus Makariens Archiv’ (‘From Makarie's Archive’), a set of aphorisms presented as the papers of Makarie, a wise older woman in the story. The German reads: ‘Es ist nicht genug, zu wissen, man muß auch anwenden; es ist nicht genug, zu wollen, man muß auch tun.’ English versions differ slightly, but the point is the same.

Türkçe oku
Bilmek yetmez; uygulamak gerekir. İstemek yetmez; yapmak gerekir.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Wilhelm Meister'in Seyahat Yılları

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe'nin (1749–1832) geç dönem romanı Wilhelm Meister'in Seyahat Yılları'ndan (Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre; 1821, gözden geçirilmiş baskı 1829). Goethe Alman şair, romancı, bilim insanı ve Weimar'da devlet adamıydı. Söz, romandaki bilge yaşlı kadın Makarie'nin notları olarak sunulan “Aus Makariens Archiv” (Makarie'nin Arşivinden) adlı özdeyiş derlemesinde geçer. Almancası şöyledir: “Es ist nicht genug, zu wissen, man muß auch anwenden; es ist nicht genug, zu wollen, man muß auch tun.” Çevirilerde kelimeler biraz değişse de anlam aynı kalır.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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