Who said "People err as long as they strive."?

Goethe (1749–1832). Source: Faust I, line 317.

What is the original German?

Es irrt der Mensch so lang er strebt. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.

Is "People err as long as they strive." on a shirt?

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

Es irrt der Mensch so lang er strebt.

People err as long as they strive.

Goethe, Faust I, line 317

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What it means

God says this to Mephistopheles in the Prologue in Heaven. Mistakes are the price of reaching for anything. If you are not making some, you may have stopped trying.

The source

"People err as long as they strive." Goethe said it in Faust I, line 317. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.

"Es irrt der Mensch so lang er strebt."

Original German, Faust I, line 317. 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 "People err as long as they strive." mean?: God says this to Mephistopheles in the Prologue in Heaven. Mistakes are the price of reaching for anything. If you are not making some, you may have stopped trying.
Who said "People err as long as they strive."?: Goethe (1749–1832). Source: Faust I, line 317.
What is the original German?: Es irrt der Mensch so lang er strebt. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.
Is "People err as long as they strive." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"People err as long as they strive." (Goethe, Faust I, line 317, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/people-err-as-long-as-they-strive