Quotes from Adelbert von Chamisso

My first care the following morning was, to devise some means of discovering the man in the grey cloak.

What use would wings be to a man bound in iron fetters? They would only drive him to even greater despair.

In Wirklichkeit war ich schon wach, aber ich hielt noch die Augen zu, um die Traaumgestalten noch länger vor meiner Seele zu behalten.

Alles, was der Mensch tut, unvollkommen ist. Aber wer will sich schon seine Unvollkommenheit eingestehen?

Mina estaba sentada, hermosa y pálida como la primera nieve que a veces, en otoño, besa las últimas flores y que pronto se fundirá en un agua amarga.

Yo, por mi parte, no pienso tan austeramente como usted; me limito a actuar de la misma manera en que usted piensa.

Sin embargo, escuchaba con gusto al ingenioso conversador, que distraía mi atención de mis sufrimientos, y de buena gana hubiera intimado con él si se hubiese dirigido a mi alma tanto como a mi razón.

Ko samo nogom kro?i sa pravoga puta, na?i ?e se neo?ekivano na drugim stazama koje ?e ga vu?i sve niže i niže.

Morao sam, naravno, da izigravam ?udljivog osobenjaka. Ali bogatašima to lepo pristaje.

After a prosperous, but to me very wearisome, voyage, we came at last into port. Immediately on landing I got together my few effects; and, squeezing myself through the crowd, went into the nearest and humblest inn which first met my gaze.

A person without a shadow should keep out of the sun, that is the only safe and rational plan.

What use would wings be to a man bound in iron fetters? They would only drive him to even greater despair.

Hope roves in a future of fame and wealth.

I will give you three days to seek your shadow. Return to me in the course of that time with a well-fitted shadow, and you shall receive a hearty welcome; otherwise, on the fourth day - remember, on the fourth day - my daughter becomes the wife of another.

The word majesty was now dropped; but, with the deepest respect and humility, I was addressed as the count. What could I do? I accepted the title, and from that moment I was known as Count Peter.

In pain a new time is born.

In pain is a new time born.

When I spoke, I was listened to; and I was at a loss to know how I had so easily acquired the art of commanding attention, and giving the tone to the conversation.

My vanity was flattered by having been mistaken for our revered sovereign. I ordered a banquet to be got ready for the following evening, under the trees before my house, and invited the whole town.

My first care the following morning was, to devise some means of discovering the man in the grey cloak.

This man, although he appeared so humble and embarrassed in his air and manners, and passed so unheeded, had inspired me with such a feeling of horror by the unearthly paleness of his countenance, from which I could not avert my eyes, that I was unable longer to endure it.

Because it appears to me a hazardous thing to exchange my soul for my shadow.

Of what use were wings to a man fast bound in chains of iron?

All possible means were used by the infatuated parents to conclude the bargain; and deception put an end to these usual artifices.