Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller

A pity about the people! they are brave enough comrades, but
they have heads like a soapboiler's.
[Ger., read more

A pity about the people! they are brave enough comrades, but
they have heads like a soapboiler's.
[Ger., Schad'um die Leut'! Sind sonst wackre Bruder
Aber das denkt, wie ein Seifensieder.]

Against stupidity the very gods
Themselves contend in vain.
[Ger., Mit der Dummheit kampfen Gotter selbst vergebens.]

Against stupidity the very gods
Themselves contend in vain.
[Ger., Mit der Dummheit kampfen Gotter selbst vergebens.]

And this be the vocation fit,
For which the founder fashioned it;
High, high above earth's life, read more

And this be the vocation fit,
For which the founder fashioned it;
High, high above earth's life, earth's labor
E'en to the heaven's blue vault to soar.
To hover as the thunder's neighbor,
The very firmament explore.
To be a voice as from above
Like yonder stars so bright and clear,
That praise their Maker as they move,
And usher in the circling year.
Tun'd be its metal mouth alone
To things eternal and sublime.
And as the swift wing'd hours speed on
May it record the flight of time!

For every event is a judgment of God.
[Ger., Denn aller Ausgang ist ein Gottesurheil.]

For every event is a judgment of God.
[Ger., Denn aller Ausgang ist ein Gottesurheil.]

What the reason of the ant laboriously drags into a heap, the
wind of accident will collect in one read more

What the reason of the ant laboriously drags into a heap, the
wind of accident will collect in one breadth.
[Was der Ameise Vernunft muhsam, zu Haufen schleppt, jagt in
einem Hui der Wind des Zufalls zusammen.