Was du ererbt von deinen Vätern hast, erwirb es, um es zu… — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | Printable Wall Art

“Was du ererbt von deinen Vätern hast, erwirb es, um es zu besitzen.”
“What you have inherited from your fathers, earn it in order to possess it.”

Words by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) — German poet, novelist, and statesman.

About this quote

This line suggests that inherited wealth, knowledge, or privilege holds no real value if simply accepted without effort. True possession requires active engagement. To genuinely own what you receive from previous generations, you must work to understand, renew, and earn it through your own labour and character, turning passive inheritance into an active, lived achievement.

The line comes from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's drama Faust, Part I, published in 1808. Faust speaks it in his study while reflecting on the books and alchemy instruments left behind by his father.

People often hang this print in a study or home office to encourage daily diligence and personal growth.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.