Goethe

Courage

Courage - meaning Summary

Forge Your Own Path

This short poem urges bold self-direction and emotional restraint. The speaker calls for striking out where no path exists, advocating courage and initiative in action. The return to an intimate second-person address shifts to inner feeling: silence the heart, endure cracking without shattering, and avoid breaking together with a loved one. It pairs outward bravery with inward steadiness as complementary moral demands.

Read Complete Analyses

Carelessly over the plain away, Where by the boldest man no path Cut before thee thou canst discern, Make for thyself a path! Silence, loved one, my heart! Cracking, let it not break! Breaking, break not with thee!

default user
PoetryVerse just now

Feel free to be first to leave comment.

8/2200 - 0