Even in the most wretched being there is a tiny hook on which a thread of salvation could be fastened.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen] (1880) [tr. Scrase and Mieder (1994)]
(Source)
Quotations by:
Ebner-Eschenbach, Marie von
Conquer, but never triumph.
[Siege, aber triumphire nicht.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 9 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
Be victorious but not triumphant.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
Chance is necessity hidden behind a veil.
[Zufall ist die in Schleier gehüllte Nothwendigkeit.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 10 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
(Source)
To have and not give is in some cases worse than stealing.
[Haben und nichts geben, ist in manchen Fällen schlechter als stehlen.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 41 (1880-1893) [tr. Wister (1882)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
To have and not give is in some instances worse than stealing.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
To be content with little is difficult; to be content with much, impossible.
[Sich mit Wenigem begnügen ist schwer, sich mit Vielem begnügen noch schwerer.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 89 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
To be satisfied with little is hard, to be satisfied with a lot is impossible.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
There is only one proof of ability — action.
[Für das Können gibt es nur einen Beweis: das Tun.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 91 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
There is only one proof of ability: doing it.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
“It is impossible to help all,” says the miser, and — helps none.
[Man kann nicht allen helfen! sagt der Engherzige und — hilft Keinem.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 105 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
You can't be of help to everybody! say the narrow-minded, and help nobody.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
Parents forgive their children least readily for the faults they themselves instilled in them.
[Eltern verzeihen ihren Kindern die Fehler am schwersten, die sie selbst ihnen anerzogen haben.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 107 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
Parents are least ready to forgive in their children faults which result from their own training.
[tr. Wister (1883)]
The greatest enemy of justice is privilege.
[Der größte Feind des Rechtes ist das Vorrecht.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 219 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
The greatest enemy of the law of right is the law of prerogative.
[tr. Wister (1883)]
So soon as a fashion is universal, it is out of date.
[Sobald eine Mode allgemein geworden ist, hat sie sich überlebt.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 280 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
As soon as fashion has caught on, it has outlived itself.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
It is bad when a married pair bore each other, but far worse when only one of them bores the other.
[Es ist schlimm, wenn zwei Eheleute einander langweilen, viel schlimmer jedoch ist es, wenn nur Einer von ihnen den Andern langweilt.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 283 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]
(Source)
(Source (German)). Alternate translation:
It's bad enough when married people bore one another; but it's far worse when only one of them bores the other.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
Remorse drives the weak to despair and the strong to sainthood.
[Die Reue treibt den Schwachen zur Verzweiflung und macht den Starken zum Heiligen.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 412 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
There are very few honest friends — the demand is not particularly great.
[Es gibt wenig aufrichtige Freunde. Die Nachfrage ist auch gering.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 528 (1880) [tr. Scrase & Mieder (1994)]
(Source)
Distrust your judgment the moment you can discern the shadow of a personal motive in it.
[Mißtraue deinem Urteil, sobald du darin den Schatten eines persönlichen Motivs entdecken kannst.]
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 548 (1880) [tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]
(Source)
I regret nothing, says arrogance; I will regret nothing, says inexperience.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms (1890-1905) [tr. Scrase & MIeder (1994)]
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms (1905)
We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don’t care for.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms (1905)
Much less evil would be done on earth if evil could not be done in the name of good.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms (1905) [tr. Scrase & Mieder (1994)]
Even a stopped clock is right twice every day. After some years, it can boast of a long series of successes.
[Die still stehende Uhr, die täglich zwei Mal die richtige Zeit angezeigt hat, blickt nach Jahren auf eine lange Reihe von Erfolgen zurück.]