Every clever thing has been thought. Try thinking it again.

What it means

Originality is rarer than people think. The real work is to rethink old wisdom until it becomes your own. Read the classics and make them yours.

The source

"Every clever thing has been thought. Try thinking it again." Goethe said it in Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years, Reflections in the Spirit of the Wanderers. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.

"Alles Gescheite ist schon gedacht worden, man muß nur versuchen, es noch einmal zu denken."

Original German, Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years, Reflections in the Spirit of the Wanderers. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Goethe (1749–1832). German poet, novelist, scientist and statesman, author of Faust. He believed knowing is worthless until it becomes doing.

Questions

What does "Every clever thing has been thought. Try thinking it again." mean?

Originality is rarer than people think. The real work is to rethink old wisdom until it becomes your own. Read the classics and make them yours.

Who said "Every clever thing has been thought. Try thinking it again."?

Goethe (1749–1832). Source: Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years, Reflections in the Spirit of the Wanderers.

What is the original German?

Alles Gescheite ist schon gedacht worden, man muß nur versuchen, es noch einmal zu denken. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Every clever thing has been thought. Try thinking it again." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Every clever thing has been thought. Try thinking it again." (Goethe, Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years, Reflections in the Spirit of the Wanderers, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/every-clever-thing-has-been-thought-try-thinking