German Proverbs
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First Series
Kümmere dich nicht um ungelegte Eier
Don't worry about unlaid eggs.
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| First-class proverbs assist broad overviews and looks. |
GERMAN proverbs assist realism. It may be surmised that plenty of old insights were had through trial and error, which is battering to some and makes many worse off. The lessons derived, may be likened to a handsome face. What lies behind may be likened to torn garments and battered bodies too. Thus, "Truth may have a handsome countenance but torn garments."
If we learn the hard-won lessons of others, we may escape some troubles that we might otherwise have had, even to our ruin. Where do we find German proverbs? In German-speaking countries, to be sure, and in particular cultures that Germans took part in establishing as they emigrated.
Over 40 million Americans are of German ancestry. They took their handy proverbs with them across the Atlantic, and formed some of them anew in another language clothing, one may say. Many German proverbs are excellent.Today there are books that bring translations into such as English of popular German proverbs. One such book is listed near the bottom along with a large and very good book by the Beyers - they have edited a neat book on German proverbs - it's in German.
You should
study when there is ample time. Better: Study with ample time.
Besser am Rande sparen als am Boden (also zur rechten Zeit). [Sl 545] - It
suggests: "Better save while the (supply) bin (storage crib) is quite full than when it is
as good as empty." Thus, save while there is some use to it.
Good study
helps even doubting Thomases and scientists on and up
Zum Lernen is keiner zu alt. [Sl 35] - Nobody is too old to learn.
Wer nich zweifeln kann, ist ein dummer mann. [Sl 706] - He who cannot doubt, is a
stupid man.
It helps the
solvent man to try to be quite calm in general - enough to study his other part to get rid
of blunt, suggestive fear
Furcht macht Abgotterei. [Sl 29] - Fear forms idolatry. (It also helps cramped
living).Sparsamkeit erhält das Haus. [Sl 346] - Frugality keeps the house.
Wie etwas nutzt so wird es geputzt. [Sl 452] - Who uses the thing, keeps it polished or well wiped (something like that).
Man höre auch den andern Teil. [Sl 38] - (There are two sides to an issue:)
"Listen to the other part also".
German proverbs and one of the finest collections
German proverbs can seem fit "alarmingly" often - either because they expose recurrent faults and blunders or because they show how to go along. They very often show us how to keep on. Some can have a touch of Rabelaisian humour with or without wry wit. It happens.The main proverb collection we cite from here and there, is a treasure-chest. It contains no less than 15 000 entries in a neat and practical alphabetic order. The collection spans four hundred years back in one of the finest cultures of Europe.
The other books on proverbs that are cited below, contains much used proverbs, and they too may give much to think of.
Other German Proverbs
Aller Anfang ist schwer. – All beginning is difficult.Alter schützt vor Torheit nicht. – Age does not protect from foolishness.
Angriff is die beste Verteildigung. – Attack is the best defence.
Aus (Durch) Schaden wird man klug. – From hurts and harms one becomes wise(r).
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm. – The apple doesn't fall far from the tree trunk.
Die Alzen zum Rat, die Jungen zur Tat. – Age counsels, youth acts.
Die Liebe wächst mit dem Quadrat der Entfernung. – Love grows with the square of the distance.
Ein fauler Apfel stecht hundert gesunde an (macht zehn). – One bad apple spoils the bunch.
Erst kommt das Fressen, dann die Moral. – First food, then moral.
Es geht alles vorüber. – This too will pass.
Frisch gewagt ist halb gewonnen. – What is bravely ventured is half-way gained (won).
Geld allein macht nicht glücklich. – Money alone doesn't make one happy.
Greift ther Abt zum Glas, greifen die Mönche zum Krug. – If the abbot seizes a glass, the monks seize a jar.
Hunger ist der beste Koch. – Hunger is the best cook.
Junges Alter is gut, alte Jugend taught nichts. – Young age is good, old youth will not do.
Not bricht Eisen. – Need (necessity) breaks iron.
Quäle nie ein Tier zum Scherz, denn es fühlt wie du den Schmerz. – Never hurt an animal for the fun of it, for it can feel pain like you.
So ist das Leben. – Such is life!
Spare in der Zeit, so hast du in der Not. – Spare in time, then you have something in your time of need. (Save for a rainy day.)
Viele Bäche machen einen Strom. – Many brooks form a river.
Wer sich nicht selber achtet, wird auch von andern nicht geachtet. – He who does not respect himself, will not be respected from others.
Wie du mir, so ich dir. – Like unto like. Tit for tat.
Zeige mir Deine Freunde und ich sage Dir wer Du bist. – Show me who you are
friends with, and I will tell you who you are. / A man is known by the friends he keeps.
- just in translation
Save while it is time.None is too old to learn.
Who can't doubt, is stupid.
It's fear that brings about idolatry.
Be sparing and keep your house.
How we use a thing (often) determines its shine. (Rendered).
Good people listen to the other party's version too (Exemplified).
Literature
Sl: Beyer, Horst and Annelies: Sprichwörter Lexikon. Seehamer. Weyarn, 1996.
Gp: Peter Mertvago, ed.: Dictionary of 1000 German Proverbs. New York: Hippocrene
Books.
Pf: Möller, Ferdinand, trans. Proverbes francais. München: Dtv, 1979.
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