Von Harbou, Thea -- Metropolis, ch. 5 [Maria] (1925) [tr. (1927)]

Dave — Mon, 15 May 2023 23:42:28 +0000

The Mediator between Brain and Hands must be the Heart.

[Der Mittler zwischen Hirn und Händen muss das Herz sein.]

Thea von Harbou (1888–1954) German screenwriter, novelist, film director, actress
Metropolis, ch. 5 [Maria] (1925) [tr. (1927)]
(Source)

The novel was written to be the basis for the film by Von Harbou's husband, Fritz Lang. She also collaborated with him on the script. The movie began shooting before the novel was published.

In talking with the growingly restless workers of the city, Maria adds, shortly after the above line:

One will come, who will speak for you -- who will be the mediator between you, the Hands, and the man whose Brain and Will are over you all.

Von Harbau also included an epigraph at the beginning of the novel, which concludes (with a slightly different translation): "The mediator between brain and muscle must be the Heart."

Hugo, Victor -- Les Misérables, Part 4 “Saint Denis,” Book 2 “Eponine,” ch. 1 (4.2.1) (1862) [tr. Denny (1976)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Thought is the work of the intellect, reverie is its self-indulgence. To substitute day-dreaming for thought is to confuse a poison with a source of nourishment.

[La pensée est le labeur de l’intelligence, la rêverie en est la volupté. Remplacer la pensée par la rêverie, c’est confondre un poison avec une nourriture.]

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French writer, journalist, human rights activist, politician
Les Misérables, Part 4 “Saint Denis,” Book 2 “Eponine,” ch. 1 (4.2.1) (1862) [tr. Denny (1976)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

Thought is the labour of the intellect, reverie is its pleasure. To replace thought by reverie is to confound poison with nourishment.
[tr. Wilbour (1862)]

Thought is the labor of the intellect, reveries its voluptuousness; substituting reverie for thought is like confounding poison with nutriment.
[tr. Wraxall (1862)]

Thought is the toil of the intelligence, revery its voluptuousness. To replace thought with revery is to confound a poison with a food.
[tr. Hapgood (1887)]

Thought is the labor of the intellect, reverie its pleasure. To replace thought with reverie is to confound poison with nourishment.
[tr. Wilbour/Fahnestock/MacAfee (1987)]

Thought is the exertion of the intellect, daydreaming is its indulgence. To replace thought with daydreaming is to mistake a poison for sustenance.
[tr. Donougher (2013)]

WIST Quotations

Von Harbou, Thea -- Metropolis, ch. 5 [Maria] (1925) [tr. (1927)]

Hugo, Victor -- Les Misérables, Part 4 “Saint Denis,” Book 2 “Eponine,” ch. 1 (4.2.1) (1862) [tr. Denny (1976)]