Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Frankfurt, 1749 - Weimar, 1832), training a lawyer, was counselor of the State in mining engineering, bridges and roads, foreign affairs, defense and culture in the ducal court of Weimar for more than half a century. Great playwright, poet, novelist, scientist and researcher, was the author of more versatile and at the same time more profound and visionary of his time. Always guided by observation and personal experience, did research in botany, osteology, mineralogy and optics, formulated thesis anticipated the theory of Darwinian evolution. With a look that always went beyond the limitations of time, developed a political philosophy, culture and nature is sometimes misunderstood by his apparent anchor in the Old Regime. Unconvinced by the first threats of democratic constitutions are immature, was ahead of his century in his criticism of the corruptibility of all power. Its comprehensive and respectful of all living still has much to teach contemporary ecology.