Russian and German proverbs. German proverbs and sayings with translation into Russian

Meine Ehre heißt Treue!
Loyalty is my honor!

Gott mit uns.
God is with us.

Jedem das Seine.
To each his own.

Wer sich tief weiß, bemüht sich um Klarheit; wer der Menge tief scheinen möchte,
bemüht sich um Dunkelheit.
He who knows a lot strives for clarity; the one who wants to show
who knows a lot, strives into the darkness.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Überzeugungen sind gefährlichere Feinde der Wahrheit als Lügen.
Translation is a more dangerous enemy of truth than lies.
Friedrich Nietzsche

German phrases for tattoos

Nicht dass du mich belogst sondern, dass ich dir nicht mehr glaube, hat mich erschüttert.
What shocked me was not that you were deceiving me, but that I no longer believed you.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Wer von seinem Tag nicht zwei Drittel für sich selbst hat, ist ein Sklave.
Anyone who does not have two-thirds of time for himself is a slave.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Wenn man ein Wozu des Lebens hat, erträgt man jedes Wie.
Anyone who has a “Why” to live will endure any “How”.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Was aus Liebe getan wird, geschieht immer jenseits von Gut und Böse.
What is done out of love is always on the other side of good and evil.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Dem wird befohlen, der sich nicht selber gehorchen kann.
They order someone who does not know how to obey himself.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Die Hoffnung ist der Regenbogen über den herabstürzenden Bach des Lebens.
Hope is a rainbow over the falling stream of life.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Weltkind (German) – a person absorbed in earthly interests

Ohne Musik wäre das Leben ein Irrtum.
Without music, life would be stupid.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Phantasie haben heißt nicht, sich etwas ausdenken; es heißt, sich aus den Dingen etwas machen.
Having imagination does not mean inventing something; it means making something new out of things.
Paul Thomas Mann

Religion ist Ehrfurcht – die Ehrfurcht zuerst vor dem Geheimnis, das der Mensch ist.
Religion is reverence - first of all, for the mystery that man represents.
Paul Thomas Mann

Wenn man jemandem alles verziehen hat, ist man mit ihm fertig.
If you have forgiven a person everything, then you are done with him.
Sigmund Freud

In dem Augenblick, in dem ein Mensch den Sinn und den Wert des Lebens bezweifelt, ist er krank.
The moment a person doubts the meaning and value of life, he is sick.
Sigmund Freud

Wir streben mehr danach, Schmerz zu vermeiden als Freude zu gewinnen.
We strive more to avoid pain than to experience joy.
Sigmund Freud

Der Mann ist leicht zu erforschen, die Frau verrät ihr Geheimnis nicht.
A man is easy to recognize, but a woman does not give away her secret.
Immanuel Kant

Schön ist dasjenige, was ohne Interesse gefällt.
What is beautiful is what you like, even without arousing interest.
Immanuel Kant

Habe Mut, dich deines eigenen Verstandes zu bedienen.
Have the courage to use your own mind.
Immanuel Kant

Man muß denken, wie die wenigsten und reden wie die meisten.
You need to think like the few and speak like the majority.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Der Wechsel allein ist das Beständige.
Only change is constant.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Die Freunde nennen sich aufrichtig. Die Feinde sind es.
They call themselves friends. They are enemies.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Vergeben und vergessen heißt kostbare Erfahrungen zum Fenster hinauswerfen.
Forgiving and forgetting means throwing valuable experience out the window.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Wir denken selten an das, was wir haben, aber immer an das, was uns fehlt.
We rarely think about what we have, but always about what we lack.
Arthur Schopenhauer

All unser Übel kommt daher, dass wir nicht allein sein können.
All our troubles come from the fact that we cannot be alone.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Die Grenzen der Sprache sind die Grenzen der Welt.
The boundaries of language are the boundaries of the world.
Ludwig Wittgenstein

Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen.
What cannot be spoken about must be kept silent.
Ludwig Wittgenstein

Es ist selten, daß ein Mensch weiß, was er eigentlich glaubt.
It is rare when a person knows what he really believes.
Oswald Spengler

Es ist unmöglich, jemandem ein Ärgernis zu geben, wenn er es nicht nehmen will.
You cannot insult someone who does not want to be insulted.
Friedrich Schlegel

Die zwei größten Tyrannen der Erde: der Zufall und die Zeit.
The two greatest tyrants in the world: Chance and Time.
Johann Gottfried Herder

German proverbs are very diverse. There really are just a huge number of them - it is possible that even more than in the Russian language. And in general, German wisdom is of particular interest. Well, the topic is interesting, so I would like to talk about it in detail.

About German wisdom

Before listing German proverbs, it is worth briefly talking about the topic as a whole. So first of all. Proverbs are not sayings. They are different from each other. A saying is a figurative and vivid expression that carries a certain symbolic meaning. But the proverb is wisdom. They have a special, moralizing character. This is their main distinguishing feature.

Why are expressions of this nature so beloved by people and permanently entrenched in every culture? Everything is simple here. These phrases were formed by ordinary people, the people. No one sat in a circle and thought about what expression to compose. Everything arose by itself - in some situations, in certain circumstances. And so it stuck. All expressions are real, not far-fetched. This is their salt. They can really make a person not just think, but analyze something - sometimes even his life. They have a deep meaning, and each person is able to take something different from these words.

Sayings are easy to interpret. A striking example is the following expression: "Der Ball sieht den guten Spieler." Literally translated as “the ball sees a good player.” Reminds me of something, doesn't it? That’s right, this is an interpretation of our great “to the catcher and the beast runs.”

Each nation is unique and original. German proverbs are part of the local culture. And if you delve deeper into this topic, you can see that many expressions that appeared in Germany have the same or similar meaning to Russian ones.

Expressions with Russian analogy

So, it’s worth listing some German proverbs. One of the most spectacular is the following: “Adel liegt im Gemüte, nicht im Geblüte.” It is translated as follows: “Nobility is not in the blood, but in the soul.” If we talk about famous German proverbs with translation, then this one will probably be at the very beginning. And there is no need to look for the hidden meaning - it lies on the surface.

We are all well aware of the Russian expression “everything has its time.” Well, the Germans like to say that too. It just sounds different: “All Ding währt seine Zeit.” And “hard trouble is the beginning”? Also often used by our people. In Germany it sounds different: “Aller Anfang ist schwer.” The truth is translated a little more elegantly: “Every beginning is difficult.” But the essence is the same, in principle.

“Old age is not a joy” - we hear this regularly. In German, this expression sounds like this: “Alter ist ein schweres Malter.” The translation is different, but the meaning is the same. “Old age is a heavy toll” - and it’s true.

There is also a very original expression. In our native language it sounds like this: “Originally it was called “Long life!” And the ending sounded like singing at a funeral.” There is no need to even cite the Russian analogy as an example - everything is already clear. By the way, in German it sounds like a toast: “Am Anfang hiess es “Lebe lang!” Das Ende klang wie Grabgesang.”

Unique Expressions

In principle, whatever one may say, the same expressions exist in one nation or another, they just sound differently, and this is logical. This fact was proven by previous German proverbs with translation.

But Germany has its own twist. In the form of proverbs, analogies of which do not exist in other nations. Here is a striking example: “Anfang und Ende reichen einander die Hände.” In Russian it will sound like this: “The beginning and the end are reaching out to each other.” Surely this means that the work, once started, will definitely be completed, regardless of the circumstances - no matter how. Quite an interesting expression. “Beredter Mund geht nicht zugrund” - translated as “you won’t be lost with eloquence.” Our short definition immediately comes to mind, which suits some people perfectly - “loose tongue”. In Germany, as in many other countries, they value their native language and believe that a word is capable of much. This is probably where this expression came from.

The phrase “besser zehn Neider denn ein Mitleider” has a special character. It translates as follows: “10 envious people are better than 1 sympathizer.” This proverb immediately demonstrates the character of the native Germans. And confirms their fortitude. The meaning of the phrase is obvious. And indeed, it is better to endure the envy of others than sympathy. If they envy, it means there is something. And sympathy for many means pity. Not the best feeling.

Expressions with financial meaning

Germany is a rich country. There are many wealthy and successful people there. It may be a paradox, but many German proverbs have a meaning that means that wealth is good and one should strive for it. Unlike Russian “poverty is not a vice”, “there is no shame in being poor”, etc. There is no need to draw conclusions - just compare the standard of living and the number of unemployed. For example, this phrase is a good example: “Armut ist fürs Podagra gut.” Translated as “poverty promotes gout.” Everyone knows that this is a terrible disease, a real mutilation of the human body. So the meaning here is clear.

“Dem Armen wird immer das Ärgste zuteil.” The meaning of this saying is approximately that the worst evils constantly befall the beggar. Another expression meaning that “laziness pays with poverty.” which, unfortunately, not all people understand. More precisely, they are not fully aware of it. In German it sounds like this: “Faulheit lohnt mit Armut.” And one more motivating proverb: “Unglück trifft nur die Armen.” Its meaning is that troubles always come only to the poor.

And these are just some of the examples. It's no surprise that people in Germany strive for wealth. It is quite possible that the values ​​of wealth and security were laid down a very long time ago, and the above could have played a role in this.

Wisdom of the great

When talking about German proverbs with translation into Russian, one cannot help but note expressions belonging to great philosophers, writers and other famous personalities of Germany.

For example, Johann Goethe once said: “Ein Mensch sein heißt ein Kämpfer sein,” which meant “to be a man is to be a fighter.” And he said everything correctly. After all, all people daily face problems, obstacles, troubles, troubles that they have to solve. And no matter how many there are, there is no way out. We need to deal with everything, even if through force. Isn't this a fight? The same theme is touched upon in his other catchphrase, which sounds like this: “Nur der verdient sich Freiheit wie das Leben, der täglich sie erobern muss.” And the meaning is this: only that person is worthy of life and freedom who fights for them every day.

And Nietzsche introduced such a concept as “umwertung aller Werte”. That is, “revaluation of values.” Everything is clear here - he meant that people sometimes attach too much importance to something.

Marx and Engels are also famous people who wrote a lot of statements. Even if these are not German sayings and proverbs with translation, they also deserve attention. "Das Sein bestimmt das Bewusstsein" "Die Arbeit hat den Menschen geschaffen" ("Labor created man"), "Das Rad der Geschichte zurückdrehen" ("Turn back the wheel of history") are just a few of the popular aphorisms belonging to them.

I would like to complete the topic of celebrity statements with a saying from Heinrich Heine. In the native language of the publicist and poet it sounded like this: “Ein Kluger bemerkt alles. Ein Dummer macht über alles eine Bemerkung.” And the essence of the saying is that a reasonable person notices absolutely everything. A stupid person draws conclusions only based on a single case.

Expressions with subtle meanings

Many unique German proverbs and sayings have a very subtle meaning. And this is what makes them remarkable. For example: “Wenn man auch schief sitzt, so muss man doch gerade sprechen.” The translation is that even if a person sits crookedly, he should always speak straight. The wisdom “man wird zu schnell alt und zu spät gescheit” also has a good meaning. And it lies in this: people grow old too quickly and wise up too late. Also relevant. “Keine Antwort ist auch eine Antwort” - the main idea of ​​this expression is that if there is no answer, then it is still an answer. It's a paradox, but it happens. The phrase “wer viel fragt, der viel irrt” contains a rather topical meaning. Its meaning is simple. The point is that the person who asks too much and too often is simply, in fact, often mistaken.

Well, all of the above is just a small fraction of the expressions, wisdom and proverbs that the people of Germany can boast of. And if you think about each one, it may seem that many words that have become entrenched in German culture are indeed not just letters, but something that influenced the formation of the characters, values ​​and ideas of the Germans.

- the main population of Germany. They live in Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, as well as in Brazil, Namibia and the USA. The German language belongs to the Germanic group of the Indo-European family of languages.

August without heat - bread at exorbitant prices - August ohne Feuer macht das Brot teuer

Velvet on the collar, bran in the stomach - Samt am Kragen, Kleie im Magen

Poverty will teach you to play the violin

Poverty is good for gout - Armut ist fürs Podagra gut

Without sweat there is no reward - Ohne Schweiß kein Preis

Without labor there is no reward - Ohne Fleiß kein Preis

Idleness is the beginning of all vices - Müßiggang ist aller Laster Anfang

Gratitude will not break your legs - Dankbar sein bricht kein Bein

Nobility is not in blood, but in character. A good heart is better than good blood - Adel liegt im Gemüte, nicht im Geblüt. Ein gut Gemüt ist besser als ein gut Geblüt

Be afraid of cats that lick in front and scratch in back - Hüte dich vor Katzen, die vorne lecken und hinten kratzen

Pain clings to the heart - Der Schmerz klammert sich ans Herz

A big club hits big shots - Große Keulen schlagen große Beulen

Large trees provide more shade than fruit

A big braggart is a bad payer - Großer Prahler, schlechter Zahler

Big bird - big nest

Being big means nothing, otherwise the cow would be able to catch up with the hare - Großsein tut’s nicht allein, sonst holte die Kuh den Hasen ein

In times of trouble, all bread is tasty - In der Not schmeckt jedes Brot

In trouble, a hundred friends weigh very little - Freunde in der Not gehn hundert auf ein Lot

More people drown in wine than in the sea - Im Becher ersaufen mehr als im Meer

You lose your mind in the heat of the moment

Every country has its own trinkets - Jedes Land hat seinen Tand

Each house has its own cross - Jedes Häuslein hat sein Kreuzlein

In every flock you will find a black sheep

Salt in short - In der Kürze liegt die Würze

In short, the essence of speech - Kürze ist der Rede Würze

One eventually repents of a hasty marriage - Heirat in Eile bereut man mit Weile

It's easy to talk in secret in the dark - Im Dunkeln ist gut munkeln

It's good to whisper in the dark, but not to catch fleas

A cheerful song pleases the soul - Ein lustig Lied macht ein fröhlich Gemüt

A cheerful guest is not a burden to anyone - Ein froher Gast ist niemands Last

The evening will tell what the day was like

Wine in a man - mind in a jug - Ist der Wein im Manne, ist der Verstand in der Kanne

An attentive listener inspires a speaker

Dirt inside, outfit outside - Innen Schmutz, außen Putz

In all the pursuits of the mind, the most difficult thing is the beginning.

Age does not protect against stupidity

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In the German and Russian languages ​​there are a lot of proverbs and sayings about animals, very similar in meaning and lexical meaning of the words.

There are sayings where the meaning changes a little, but the characters of the animals are similar. Or there are proverbs where the meaning is expressed in completely different words, unique only to Germans or Russians.

Sayings and proverbs about animals reflect many years of human observations of the habits of animals and their appearance, and convey our attitude towards our “little brothers.” So, proverbs and sayings with animal names in German and Russian reflect:

- physical abilities and qualities: weak like a chicken, strong (hardy) like a horse, swims like a fish, agile like a monkey, keen-sighted like a lynx, scent like a dog, etc.;

- appearance: goatee, black as a raven, wasp waist, with a sparrow (gulkin) nose, dry as a roach, thick as a hog, etc.;

- mental qualities (or character traits): stubborn like a donkey, a bull, stubborn like a ram, annoying like a fly, cocky like a rooster, gloomy like a biryuk, etc.;

- intellectual qualities: cunning as a fox, stupid as a gray gelding, it’s a no brainer to stare like a ram at a new gate, etc.;

- skills, abilities, habits: they cackle like a jackdaw, chatter like a magpie, be dumb like a fish, repeat like a parrot, ostrich politics, etc.

The characteristics that a person attributes to animals may be the same in different languages, or they may differ significantly. So, for example, the image of a wolf in a Russian proverb is replaced by the image of a hare in a German proverb, and the image of a dog is replaced by the image of a bear.

Ein kleiner Hund bleibt zeitlebens ein Welpe. A small dog becomes an old puppy.

Alter Fuchs geht nicht zweimal ins Garn. An old fox is hard to catch.

Der Wolf ändert wohl das Haar, doch bleibt er, wie er war. The wolf molts every year, but does not change its character.

Die Arbeit ist kein Bär, sie rennt uns nicht in den Wald weg. It's not a bear, it won't run into the forest.

Der Bär wäscht sich nicht, ist aber immer gesund. The bear doesn't wash himself but stays healthy.

Not lehrt den Bären tanzen. And the bear is taught to dance.

Wer sich vor dem Wolf fürchtet, geht nicht in den Wald. If you're afraid of the wolf, don't go into the forest.

Ein Wolf im Schlaf fing nie ein Schaf. The wolf's legs feed him.

Mit den Wölfen muß man heulen. To live with wolves is to howl like a wolf.

Ein Wolf im Schafspelz. Wolf in sheep's clothing.

Einen schwarzen Rüden kann man nicht weiß Waschen. You can't wash a black dog white.

Wie des Gärtners Hund. He's like a dog in a manger.

Es ist nicht immer Butterwoche für den Kater. Every day is not Sunday.

Bei Nacht sind alle Katzen grau. At night all cats are black.

Die Katze im Sack kaufen. Buy a pig in a poke.

Der Katze Scherz, der Mäuse Tod. The cat has toys, and the mouse has tears.

Wenn die Katze fort ist, tanzen die Mäuse. The cat is out of the house - the mice are dancing.

Die Katze weiß, wo sie genascht hat. The cat knows whose lard he ate.

Ein geschenkten Pferd sieht man nicht auf die Zähne. They do not look at a given horse's teeth.

Wem Gott wohl will, dem will Sankt Peter nicht übel. God won't give you away, the pig won't eat you.

Die Bäuerin hatte keine Sorgen, da kaufte sie sich ein Ferkel. There was no sadness, the woman bought a pig.

Ganz und Schwein sind keine Freunde. The goose is no friend to the pig.

Das alter Pferd verdirbt die Furche nicht. An old horse won't ruin the furrow.

Auch ein Pferd strauchelt und hat doch vier Beine. The horse is on four legs and then stumbles.

Dear lovers of the German language!

German proverbs and sayings about love, home and family aroused great interest among readers of our blog, and they asked to continue this topic. What could be next to love, home and family? Of course, friendship!

Therefore, our next proverbs will be dedicated to friendship.

1. Ein guter Freund ist mehr wert, als ein Bruder in der Ferne. - A good friend is more valuable than a brother who is not around.

2. Die alten Freunde sind die besten. – Old friends are the best.

3. Ein alter Freund ist zwei neue wert. - An old friend is better than two new ones.

4. Den Freund erkennt man in der Not. - Friend is known in trouble.

5. In Geschäftssachen hört die Freundschaft auf. - Friendship is friendship, but tobacco is apart.

6. Freunde sind über Silber und Gold. – Friendship is more valuable than silver and gold.

7. Behüte mich Gott vor meinen Freunden, mit den Feinden will ich schon fertig werden. - Don't be afraid of the enemy, but be afraid of your friend.

8. Freundschaft bewährt sich in der Not. - Find the matches in the Russian language, please, yourself.

This is already becoming a good tradition in our section, as is the fact that you supplement the topic with your proverbs. Proverbs and sayings enrich the speaker’s speech.

Ich warte auf Ihre baldige Reaktion, liebe Freunde der deutschen Sprache!

Those who want to get to know us better can go to this page and sign up for a free trial lesson. Es lohnt sich! Viel Spaß!

Have you made significant progress in learning German, but feel like you're missing out on something? Learning proverbs can inspire you to take the final step and finally speak German fluently.

Proverbs add variety and color to spoken language. The inclusion of proverbs in your speech indicates that you have a large vocabulary, and you have really mastered the German language. In addition, the use of proverbs is a sure way to grow in the eyes of any native speaker, because this oratorical technique is thoroughly “imbued” with national culture. Learning a few German sayings will not require much effort on your part. Even beginners would do well to supplement their vocabulary with them.

In this article we will arm you with a whole arsenal of proverbs. This is an excellent selection of well-known and less common sayings. You can surprise native speakers with something they haven’t heard themselves. But above all, we have concentrated on proverbs designed to ignite a spark in you and create a mood for .

• Aller Anfang ist schwer.

Literal translation:“Starting is always difficult.”

It doesn’t matter what you do in life, be it learning a new language, building a career or creating a project, if you start from scratch, then at first you know absolutely nothing. It's part of the natural order of things, and that's the way it should be. Don't worry and keep going until you get it right.

• Des Teufels liebstes Möbelstück ist die lange Bank.

Literal translation:"The long bench is the devil's favorite piece of furniture."

In German, "to put something on a long bench" means "to put something aside" ( etwas auf die lange Bank schieben– another addition to your collection of German slang). It seems that the Germans knew about the tendency to procrastinate long before the word “procrastination” was coined. What are you putting off on the “long bench” that could be done now? Don't let the devil win!

• Wer rastet, der rostet.

Literal translation:“He who does nothing gets rusty.”

This saying indicates that you need to constantly work on your skills to improve them. She also warns about the importance of taking action to achieve something. Too many initiatives never come to fruition and fizzle out because they are not systematically worked on. So, finish what you start before you lose your skills.

• Anfangen ist leicht, Beharren eine Kunst.

Literal translation:“Starting is easy, but continuing is skill.”

Starting something is much easier than finishing it. It has happened to everyone, when starting a new business, to be full of enthusiasm, which faded over time. Maintaining motivation is a skill in itself that needs to be developed.

• Aus Schaden wird man plug.

Literal translation:“You learn from mistakes.”

In many national cultures, it is customary to prevent failure. Nobody likes to get into trouble or fail. However, many people forget that failure is necessary for learning and gaining experience. Without making mistakes, you will never understand how to do it right. To quote Samuel Beckett: “Try. Fall. Doesn't matter. Try again, fail again, fail better.”

• Das Billige ist immer das Teuerste.

Literal translation:“The cheapest is always the most expensive.”

This saying reminds us that it is necessary to invest in quality. While your first instinct is often to go for the cheapest option, in most cases it's worth spending a little more. Be it for educational materials, teachers, services, whatever. It almost always pays off in the long run.

• Du siehst den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht.

Literal translation:“You can’t see the forest for the trees.”

In life, it is important to see the whole picture. If we focus only on individual victories or failures instead of seeing life as a whole, we submit to the whims of fate and become easily frustrated. So, don’t give up learning German just because you found the grammar too difficult that day. Tomorrow you can return to this again.

• Erst denken, dann handeln.

Literal translation:“Think first, then act.”

While taking action is important, it is equally important to take the right actions. This proverb reminds us to prioritize and make decisions after careful consideration, instead of rushing blindly into battle.

• Eile mit Weile.

Literal translation:"Hurry up slowly."

Although you need to work hard to achieve your goals and not be lazy ( We'll grow, der rostet, remember?), you need to find time to enjoy life. By focusing only on the end result, it's easy to miss out on all the fun.

• Kümmere Dicht um ungelegte Eier.

Literal translation:"Don't worry about the eggs the hen hasn't laid yet."

This proverb is a bit similar to the English “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” and the Russian “Chickens are counted in the fall.” The English and Russian versions say that we should not rely on means that we do not have at the moment, and the German equivalent expresses the futility of worrying about events that have not yet happened and may never happen.

• Man muss die Dinge nehmen, wie sie kommen.

Literal translation:“Accept things as they come.”

Same line of thought. Life rarely goes according to the scenario we planned. Therefore, it is important to be able to adapt to current conditions instead of wishing for things to be different. So, accept life as it is, and not as you think it should be.

• Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund.

Literal translation:“The morning hours are showered with gold.”

This proverb is one of the Germans' ways of emphasizing the importance of waking up early. Many inventors and creators were early risers and used the morning hours to be most productive. We recommend!

• Selbst ist der Mann.

Literal translation:“Man is his own master.”

This saying is difficult to translate literally. Often, instead of taking action, we wait for help from others. And this is our justification. This proverb says that if you want something done, do it yourself. Today, a feminist version of this saying is also widely used - Selbst ist die Frau, hinting that a woman can handle a lot herself.

• Taten sagen mehr als Worte.

Literal translation:“Actions speak louder than words.”

Of course, the meaning of this saying is: Talk less, do more. Many people want to do great things and love to talk about their plans, but it doesn't go further than that. Let your actions speak for you.

• Übung macht den Meister.

Literal translation:“Practice makes the master.”

Mastery is difficult to achieve. To truly achieve anything, you need to hone your skills day in and day out. If you want to improve your level of professionalism, you need to devote a lot of time and practice to your chosen activity. Whether it's physical or language skills, there is no shortcut.

• Wer zwei Hasen auf einmal jagt bekommt keinen.

Literal translation:“If you chase two hares, you won’t catch either.”

This is a way of saying in German "Don't set too many goals." Concentrate. Focus on one thing first, and then move on to the next.

• Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen.

Literal translation:“Say A, say B.”

No, this is not the slowest way to learn the alphabet. This means that if you decide to do something, then do it to the end. There is no need to quit halfway or be selective in your approach. This is for those who want Wasch mir den Pelz aber mach mich nicht nass(wash the wool, but do not get it wet), i.e. get results without any accompanying sacrifices.

• Wenn der Reiter nichts taugt, hat das Pferd schuld.

Literal translation:“If the rider is no good, then the horse is to blame.”

When we try to do something and fail, we tend to blame external factors and circumstances. To relieve oneself of guilt is a natural desire of any person, but the German proverb reminds us that one must be able to take responsibility.

• Der Hunger kommt beim Essen.

Literal translation:"Appetite comes with eating."

The hardest thing in any business is getting started. For example, you want to learn German. Every day you plan to sign up for classes, but you lack motivation. Start small, look at the textbook for at least 1 minute. Most often, after some time, you will become immersed in the process, and you will have a desire to continue.

• Dienst ist Dienst und Schnaps ist Schnaps.

Literal translation:“Work is work, and drinking is drinking.”

Even if we do work that we enjoy, it is not always complete pleasure. Sometimes it's just work. Accept it, throw yourself into the work and get it done. There is light at the end of the tunnel. This proverb also reminds us of the need to take regular breaks. Just don’t abuse alcohol, otherwise you won’t feel rested.