This archive is a collection of previous daily quotations in German and English. You can find today's German quotation on our Zitat des Tages page.

A sampling of the daily quotations that have appeared on our daily Zitat des Tages Web page.

Note: These quotations have been collected from a variety of sources, including works in print, online and reader contributions. The resulting collection, i.e., the German and the English versions in these archives, may not be reproduced or used elsewhere without the express permission of Hyde Flippo and About.com. Single, individual quotations may be used for non-commercial or classroom purposes with this notice: “From the German Language site at About.com - http://german.about.com.”

Es ist nichts schrecklicher als eine tätige Unwissenheit.
There's nothing more terrible than ignorance in action.

   - J.W. Goethe (1749-1832), Maximen und Reflexionen

Alte Schuld rostet nicht.
Old guilt (or debt) doesn't rust.

   - Sprichwort/Proverb

Sein Gewissen war rein. Er benutzte es nie.
His conscience was clean. He never used it.

   - Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909-1966), Unfrisierte Gedanken

Der, der ich bin, grüßt trauernd den, der ich sein möchte.
The man I am mournfully greets the man I'd like to be.

   - Karl Rahner (1904-1984), on 4. Mar. 1979, at the Katholische Akademie, Munich

Wer lügen will, sagt man, muß sich erst selbst überreden.
He who wants to lie, they say, must first convince himself.

   - J.W. Goethe (1749-1832), Die Vögel

Wer eine Frau beim Wort nimmt, ist Sadist.
He who takes a woman at her word is a sadist.

   - Jeanne Moreau (1928- ), French actress

Unsere Zeit ist eine Zeit der Erfüllung, und Erfüllungen sind immer Enttäuschungen.
Our time is a time of accomplishment, and accomplishments are always disappointments.

   - Robert Musil (1880-1942), Austrian writer

Faulheit ist der Hang zur Ruhe ohne vorhergehende Arbeit.
Laziness is the tendency to rest without having done any work.

   - Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), German philosopher

Geld spricht alle Sprachen.
Money speaks all languages.

   - Sprichwort/Proverb

Nichts beklagen, nichts erklären.
Never complain and never explain.

   - Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), British prime minister
    (quoted in The Life of Gladstone by John Morley)

Note: Thanks to Paulo César Mendes of Brazil for providing the original English and the correct attribution for this quotation.

Wer sich selbst treu bleiben will,
kann nicht immer anderen treu bleiben.
He who wants to remain true to himself
can't always remain true to others.

   - Christian Morgenstern (1871-1914)

Note: These quotations have been collected from a variety of sources, including works in print, online and reader contributions. The resulting collection, i.e., the German and the English versions in these archives, may not be reproduced or used elsewhere without the express permission of Hyde Flippo and About.com. Single, individual quotations may be used for non-commercial or classroom purposes with this notice: “From the German Language site at About.com - http://german.about.com.”

Zitate - Inhalt (Contents)
The main quotations contents page.

Zitat des Tages
Today's quotation in German and English.

Wort des Tages
Today's word or phrase of the day.

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