An upright hammer stands among small seashells and an acorn on pale mint.

Original artwork, not a still

Art and Antiquity, III, 1 ‧ 1821

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Many hammer all over the wall and believe that with each blow they hit the nail on the head.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Goethe pokes fun at people who swing wildly and assume every blow is accurate. Hammering all over the wall is a lot of effort with little precision. Being busy and being right aren't the same thing, and confidence can hide missed marks.

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