How did Friedrich Schiller and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe become friends?

The friendship between Friedrich Schiller and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe began with a chance meeting in 1794, which was followed by an extensive exchange of letters. Despite an initial sense of distance between the two, this encounter initiated a collaboration that became one of the most significant and productive relationships in world literature.123

Their bond was characterized as a "union of opposites," as Schiller famously reflected on the differences between himself—whom he identified as a "sentimental" writer—and Goethe, whom he viewed as a "naive" poet. Over the course of more than a decade, they maintained a correspondence of over a thousand letters, engaging in a continuous dialogue regarding their respective works, projects, and the broader literary landscape of their time. This partnership proved mutually beneficial, as they provided each other with constant commentary and encouragement, ultimately leading to the culmination of what is known as Weimar Classicism.123