Jean Paul
Jean Paul
Jean Paul, born Johann Paul Friedrich Richter, was a German Romantic writer, best known for his humorous novels and stories...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionAuthor
Date of Birth21 March 1763
CountryGermany
friendship good-friend determined
It has been jestingly said that the works of John Paul Richter are almost unintelligible to any but the Germans, and even to some of them. A worthy German, just before Richter's death, edited a complete edition of his works, in which one particular passage fairly puzzled him. Determined to have it explained at the source, he went to John Paul himself. The author's reply was very characteristic: "My good friend, when I wrote that passage, God and I knew what it meant; it is possible that God knows it still; but as for me, I have totally forgotten."
children choices determined
I maintain that inversion is the effect of neither a prenatal choice nor an endocrinal malformation nor even the passive and determined result of complexes. It is an outlet that a child discovers when he is suffocating.
dancing develop exercise exercises muscles powers single
Other exercises develop single powers and muscles, but dancing embellishes, exercises, and equalizes all the muscles at once.
body brevity soul
Brevity is the body and soul of wit.
action good ordinary
Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations.
cares die difficult former latter sorrow throw
Cares are often more difficult to throw off than sorrows; the latter die with time, the former grow.
gathered idleness miseries
Idleness is many gathered miseries in one name.
laughs laughter profoundly sad
No one is more profoundly sad as one who laughs too much.
clearer escaped hourglass wisdom
The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
ennoble good sons
Good actions ennoble us, we are the sons of our own deeds.
age age-and-aging matter
Age does not matter if the matter does not age.
writers-and-writing
Never write on a subject until you have read yourself full of it.
action actions gives life
Only actions give life strength; only moderation gives it charm.
inspirational life relationship
Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life.