In the city of Weimar, Germany, there is a statue that was set up in 1857. It is of two of Germany’s great writers, who were also good friends—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) and Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759–1805).

While both men were still living, critics and the public often raised the question of which was the greater writer. If Goethe heard people say, “Sir, you are the master poet of the Germans,” he was quick to rejoin, “You must not forget Schiller!” And when they praised Schiller as the finest German poet, Schiller would say, “But there is my friend Goethe.”

The sculptor of the statue of Weimar expressed their mutual love and admiration beautifully. Goethe has a wreath of laurel leaves in his hand, which he is raising to place on Schiller’s head. But Schiller does not want the crown. He thinks Goethe deserves it more, and is thrusting it back, as if to say, “No, it is more fitting for you to wear it than me.” Thus the two friends nobly disagree, each refusing to be crowned, for they appreciated each other’s talent and valued their friendship more than acclaim.

Retold by Keith Phillips

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

—Jesus, John 15:13

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.”— And the real test of any love is what it is prepared to “lay down.” How much is it ready to spend? [Real] love is always laying down its life for others.

—J.H. Jowett