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Easy German Essays for Beginners: 8 Examples to Practice Your Language Skills

Are you a beginner in learning German and looking for ways to practice your language skills? One great way to do so is by writing essays in German. Writing essays not only improves your grammar and vocabulary but also helps you express your thoughts and ideas in the target language. In this article, we will provide you with eight easy German essays for Beginners with English translation and vocabulary to help you get started.

• Meine Familie (My family) – Write about your family, including their names, occupations, and hobbies.
• Mein Haus (My house) – Describe your house or apartment, including the number of rooms, furniture, and decorations.
• Meine Hobbys (My hobbies) – Talk about your favorite hobbies, such as playing sports, reading books, or listening to music.
• Meine Schule (My school) – Write about your school, including its location, teachers, and subjects you study.
• Meine Freunde (My friends) – Discuss your friends, including how you met them, their personalities, and what you like to do together.
• Meine Stadt (My city) – Describe your city or town, including its population, tourist attractions, and cultural events.
• Meine Reise (My trip) – Write about a recent trip you took, including the destination, transportation, and activities you did there.
• Meine Lieblingsessen (My favorite food) – Talk about your favorite foods, including traditional German dishes and other international cuisines.

Remember to use simple vocabulary and sentence structures while writing the essays. Good luck with your German learning journey!

Table of Contents

Meine familie (my family).

Ich heiße Maria und ich möchte euch gerne meine Familie vorstellen. Wir sind insgesamt vier Personen in meiner Familie. Mein Vater heißt Klaus und er arbeitet als Ingenieur. Meine Mutter heißt Petra und sie ist Hausfrau. Mein Bruder heißt Jan und er geht noch zur Schule.

(My name is Maria, and I would like to introduce you to my family. We are a family of four. My father’s name is Klaus, and he works as an engineer. My mother’s name is Petra, and she is a homemaker. My brother’s name is Jan, and he still goes to school.)

Vocabulary:

• Ich heiße Maria (My name is Maria)
• insgesamt (altogether)
• vier Personen (four persons)
• der Vater (father)
• arbeiten (to work)
• der Ingenieur (engineer)
• die Mutter (mother)
• Hausfrau (homemaker)
• der Bruder (brother)
• noch zur Schule gehen (still go to school)

Mein Vater arbeitet in einem großen Unternehmen als Ingenieur. Er ist sehr fleißig und verbringt viel Zeit im Büro. In seiner Freizeit geht er gerne joggen oder spielt Golf. Meine Mutter kümmert sich um den Haushalt und verbringt viel Zeit damit, leckere Mahlzeiten zu kochen. Sie liest auch gerne Bücher und geht regelmäßig zum Yoga.

(My father works in a large company as an engineer. He is very hardworking and spends a lot of time in the office. In his free time, he likes to go jogging or play golf. My mother takes care of the household and spends a lot of time cooking delicious meals. She also likes to read books and regularly attends yoga classes.)

• in einem großen Unternehmen (in a large company)
• sehr fleißig (very hardworking)
• viel Zeit (a lot of time)
• im Büro (in the office)
• in seiner Freizeit (in his free time)
• joggen (to go jogging)
• Golf spielen (to play golf)
• sich kümmern um (to take care of)
• der Haushalt (household)
• leckere Mahlzeiten kochen (cook delicious meals)
• gerne lesen (like to read)
• regelmäßig (regularly)
• zum Yoga gehen (go to yoga)

Mein Bruder Jan geht noch zur Schule und ist sehr sportlich. Er spielt Fußball im Verein und geht regelmäßig ins Fitnessstudio. In seiner Freizeit hört er gerne Musik und schaut Filme.

(My brother Jan still goes to school and is very sporty. He plays soccer in a club and regularly goes to the gym. In his free time, he likes to listen to music and watch movies.)

• sehr sportlich (very sporty)
• Fußball spielen (to play soccer)
• im Verein (in a club)
• ins Fitnessstudio gehen (to go to the gym)
• Musik hören (listen to music)
• Filme schauen (watch movies)

Ich studiere im Moment an der Universität und meine Hobbys sind Lesen, Reisen und Yoga. In meiner Freizeit gehe ich gerne in die Natur und genieße die frische Luft.

(I am currently studying at the university, and my hobbies are reading, traveling, and yoga. In my free time, I like to go into nature and enjoy the fresh air.)

• studieren (to study)
• an der Universität (at the university)
• die Hobbys (hobbies)
• Lesen (reading)
• Reisen (traveling)
• Yoga (yoga)
• die Freizeit (free time)
• in die Natur gehen (go into nature)
• genießen (enjoy)
• frische Luft (fresh air)

Das ist meine Familie. Wir haben viele verschiedene Hobbys und Interessen, aber wir verbringen auch gerne gemeinsam Zeit miteinander.

(This is my family. We have many different hobbies and interests, but we also enjoy spending time together.)

• das ist (this is)
• verschiedene Hobbys und Interessen (different hobbies and interests)
• gerne Zeit miteinander verbringen (enjoy spending time together)

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Mein Haus (My House)

Ich lebe in einem Haus mit drei Schlafzimmern und zwei Bädern. Das Haus ist zweistöckig und hat auch einen Keller. Im Erdgeschoss befinden sich das Wohnzimmer, die Küche und ein Esszimmer. Im Wohnzimmer haben wir ein bequemes Sofa und einen großen Fernseher. In der Küche gibt es eine Spülmaschine, einen Herd, einen Backofen und einen Kühlschrank. Das Esszimmer hat einen Esstisch mit sechs Stühlen.

(I live in a house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The house is two stories and also has a basement. On the ground floor, there is the living room, kitchen, and a dining room. In the living room, we have a comfortable sofa and a large television. In the kitchen, there is a dishwasher, stove, oven, and refrigerator. The dining room has a dining table with six chairs.)

• das Haus (house)
• die Schlafzimmer (bedrooms)
• die Bäder (bathrooms)
• zweistöckig (two-storied)
• der Keller (basement)
• das Erdgeschoss (ground floor)
• das Wohnzimmer (living room)
• die Küche (kitchen)
• das Esszimmer (dining room)
• ein bequemes Sofa (a comfortable sofa)
• ein großer Fernseher (a large television)
• eine Spülmaschine (a dishwasher)
• ein Herd (a stove)
• ein Backofen (an oven)
• ein Kühlschrank (a refrigerator)
• ein Esstisch (a dining table)
• sechs Stühle (six chairs)

Im Obergeschoss befinden sich die Schlafzimmer und die Bäder. Mein Schlafzimmer hat ein großes Bett, einen Schreibtisch und einen Kleiderschrank. Das Badezimmer hat eine Badewanne und eine Dusche. In den anderen Schlafzimmern gibt es auch Betten und Schränke für Kleidung.

(Upstairs, there are the bedrooms and bathrooms. My bedroom has a large bed, a desk, and a closet. The bathroom has a bathtub and a shower. In the other bedrooms, there are also beds and closets for clothes.)

• das Obergeschoss (upper floor)
• das Schlafzimmer (bedroom)
• der Schreibtisch (desk)
• der Kleiderschrank (closet)
• das Badezimmer (bathroom)
• die Badewanne (bathtub)
• die Dusche (shower)
• die anderen Schlafzimmer (the other bedrooms)

Im Keller haben wir eine Waschmaschine und einen Trockner. Wir nutzen den Keller auch als Lager für Dinge, die wir nicht oft brauchen.

(In the basement, we have a washing machine and dryer. We also use the basement as a storage area for things we don’t need often.)

• die Waschmaschine (washing machine)
• der Trockner (dryer)
• als Lager nutzen (use as storage area)
• Dinge (things)

Wir haben auch einige Dekorationen im Haus. Im Wohnzimmer haben wir ein großes Gemälde an der Wand und im Esszimmer steht eine Vase mit Blumen auf dem Tisch.

(We also have some decorations in the house. In the living room, we have a large painting on the wall, and in the dining room, there is a vase of flowers on the table.)

• die Dekorationen (decorations)
• das Gemälde (painting)
• die Wand (wall)
• die Vase (vase)
• die Blumen (flowers)
• der Tisch (table)

Wir haben auch ein paar Teppiche im Haus, um den Boden zu bedecken. Das Wohnzimmer hat einen braunen Teppich, während die Schlafzimmer jeweils einen unterschiedlichen Farbton haben. Mein Schlafzimmer hat einen blauen Teppich, während das andere Schlafzimmer einen roten Teppich hat.

(We also have some carpets in the house to cover the floor. The living room has a brown carpet, while the bedrooms have a different color tone each. My bedroom has a blue carpet, while the other bedroom has a red carpet.)

• der Teppich (carpet)
• den Boden bedecken (to cover the floor)
• unterschiedliche Farbton (different color tone)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr glücklich mit meinem Haus. Es ist gemütlich und hat genug Platz für meine Familie und mich.

(Overall, I am very happy with my house. It is cozy and has enough space for my family and me.)

• insgesamt (overall)
• glücklich (happy)
• gemütlich (cozy)
• genug Platz (enough space)

Difference between ein, eine, einen, and einem in the German Language

Meine hobbys (my hobbies).

Ich habe einige Hobbys, die ich sehr gerne mache. Eines meiner Lieblingshobbys ist es, Sport zu treiben. Insbesondere mag ich es, Basketball zu spielen und Laufen zu gehen. Ich liebe es, im Freien zu sein und Sport zu treiben, weil es mir hilft, mich fit und gesund zu halten.

(I have some hobbies that I really enjoy doing. One of my favorite hobbies is doing sports. In particular, I like to play basketball and go running. I love being outdoors and doing sports because it helps me stay fit and healthy.)

• das Hobby (hobby)
• Sport treiben (to do sports)
• Basketball spielen (to play basketball)
• Laufen gehen (to go running)
• im Freien sein (to be outdoors)
• fit und gesund (fit and healthy)

Ein weiteres Hobby von mir ist das Lesen von Büchern. Ich lese gerne Romane und Sachbücher, besonders über Geschichte und Wissenschaft. Lesen ist für mich eine Möglichkeit, zu lernen und meine Vorstellungskraft zu erweitern.

(Another hobby of mine is reading books. I enjoy reading novels and non-fiction books, especially about history and science. Reading is a way for me to learn and expand my imagination.)

• das Lesen (reading)
• das Buch (book)
• der Roman (novel)
• das Sachbuch (non-fiction book)
• die Geschichte (history)
• die Wissenschaft (science)
• die Vorstellungskraft (imagination)

Außerdem höre ich gerne Musik. Ich mag viele verschiedene Genres wie Pop, Rock und Klassik. Musik kann meine Stimmung beeinflussen und mich entspannen.

(Additionally, I like to listen to music. I enjoy many different genres like pop, rock, and classical. Music can influence my mood and help me relax.)

• die Musik (music)
• das Genre (genre)
• Pop, Rock, Klassik (pop, rock, classical)
• die Stimmung (mood)
• sich entspannen (to relax)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr dankbar für meine Hobbys. Sie helfen mir, meinen Geist und Körper gesund zu halten und mich zu entspannen.

(Overall, I am very grateful for my hobbies. They help me keep my mind and body healthy and help me relax.)

• dankbar (grateful)
• der Geist (mind)
• der Körper (body)

German Essays on My Family: Meine Familie

Meine schule (my school).

Ich besuche eine Schule in der Nähe meines Hauses. Die Schule ist relativ groß und hat viele Schülerinnen und Schüler. Wir haben viele Lehrerinnen und Lehrer, die alle sehr nett und hilfsbereit sind.

(I attend a school near my house. The school is relatively large and has many students. We have many teachers who are all very kind and helpful.)

• besuchen (to attend)
• die Nähe (proximity)
• relativ (relatively)
• die Schülerin (female student)
• der Schüler (male student)
• viele (many)
• die Lehrerin (female teacher)
• der Lehrer (male teacher)
• nett (kind)
• hilfsbereit (helpful)

Die Schule bietet viele verschiedene Fächer an, einschließlich Mathematik, Geschichte, Englisch, Naturwissenschaften und Fremdsprachen. Mein Lieblingsfach ist Englisch, weil ich gerne Geschichten lese und schreibe. Ich denke, dass es wichtig ist, eine gute Ausbildung zu haben, um im Leben erfolgreich zu sein.

(The school offers many different subjects, including mathematics, history, English, science, and foreign languages. My favorite subject is English because I enjoy reading and writing stories. I believe that having a good education is important to be successful in life.)

• das Fach (subject)
• einschließlich (including)
• Mathematik (mathematics)
• Geschichte (history)
• Englisch (English)
• Naturwissenschaften (science)
• Fremdsprachen (foreign languages)
• das Lieblingsfach (favorite subject)
• die Geschichte (story)
• die Ausbildung (education)
• erfolgreich (successful)

Unsere Schule hat auch viele außerschulische Aktivitäten, wie zum Beispiel Sportmannschaften und Musikgruppen. Ich bin Mitglied des Schulfußballteams und wir haben viele Spiele gegen andere Schulen in der Gegend. Es macht mir viel Spaß und ich habe viele Freunde durch das Team kennengelernt.

(Our school also has many extracurricular activities, such as sports teams and music groups. I am a member of the school soccer team and we have many games against other schools in the area. It’s a lot of fun and I have made many friends through the team.)

• außerschulisch (extracurricular)
• die Aktivitäten (activities)
• die Sportmannschaften (sports teams)
• die Musikgruppen (music groups)
• das Mitglied (member)
• das Schulfußballteam (school soccer team)
• das Spiel (game)
• die Gegend (area)
• der Spaß (fun)
• der Freund (friend)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr glücklich auf meiner Schule und ich denke, dass ich hier eine gute Ausbildung bekomme. Ich hoffe, dass ich in Zukunft noch mehr von den vielen Möglichkeiten, die die Schule bietet, profitieren kann.

(Overall, I am very happy at my school and I think that I am getting a good education here. I hope that in the future, I can take advantage of even more of the many opportunities that the school offers.)

• die Möglichkeit (opportunity)
• profitieren (to take advantage of)

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Meine Freunde (My friends)

Ich habe viele Freunde, aber ich möchte über meine drei engsten Freunde sprechen. Wir haben uns alle in der Grundschule kennengelernt und sind seitdem unzertrennlich.

(I have many friends, but I want to talk about my three closest friends. We all met in elementary school and have been inseparable ever since.)

• die Freunde (friends)
• unzertrennlich (inseparable)

Mein erster Freund heißt Max. Er ist sehr sportlich und spielt gerne Fußball und Basketball. Max ist auch sehr lustig und hat immer eine positive Einstellung. Wir lieben es, zusammen Sport zu treiben oder Videospiele zu spielen.

(My first friend is Max. He is very athletic and likes to play soccer and basketball. Max is also very funny and always has a positive attitude. We love to exercise or play video games together.)

• sportlich (athletic)
• Fußball (soccer)
• Basketball (basketball)
• die Einstellung (attitude)
• lustig (funny)
• zusammen (together)
• Videospiele (video games)

Meine Freundin Anna ist sehr künstlerisch und liebt es zu malen und zu zeichnen. Sie hat auch ein großes Herz und ist immer bereit, anderen zu helfen. Anna und ich machen oft zusammen Kunstprojekte oder gehen ins Kino.

(My friend Anna is very artistic and loves to paint and draw. She also has a big heart and is always willing to help others. Anna and I often do art projects together or go to the movies.)

• künstlerisch (artistic)
• malen (to paint)
• zeichnen (to draw)
• das Herz (heart)
• bereit (willing)
• helfen (to help)
• das Kunstprojekt (art project)
• ins Kino gehen (to go to the movies)

Mein Freund Tom ist sehr intelligent und liebt es, neue Dinge zu lernen. Er ist auch sehr abenteuerlustig und geht gerne auf Reisen. Tom und ich haben viele spannende Abenteuer erlebt, wie zum Beispiel Campingausflüge oder Klettertouren.

(My friend Tom is very smart and loves to learn new things. He is also very adventurous and likes to travel. Tom and I have had many exciting adventures, such as camping trips or climbing expeditions.)

• intelligent (smart)
• abenteuerlustig (adventurous)
• die Reise (travel)
• die Abenteuer (adventures)
• der Campingausflug (camping trip)
• die Klettertour (climbing expedition)

Insgesamt bin ich sehr dankbar für meine Freunde und bin froh, dass ich sie habe. Wir haben so viele schöne Erinnerungen zusammen gemacht und ich freue mich auf viele weitere Abenteuer mit ihnen.

(Overall, I am very grateful for my friends and am glad to have them. We have made so many beautiful memories together and I look forward to many more adventures with them.)

• froh (glad)
• die Erinnerungen (memories)

Meine Stadt (My city)

Ich lebe in einer Stadt namens Hamburg in Deutschland. Hamburg ist die zweitgrößte Stadt Deutschlands und hat eine Bevölkerung von etwa 1,8 Millionen Menschen. Es ist eine Hafenstadt und liegt an der Elbe.

(I live in a city called Hamburg in Germany. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and has a population of about 1.8 million people. It is a port city and located on the river Elbe.)

• die Bevölkerung (population)
• der Hafen (port)
• die Elbe (river Elbe)

Hamburg ist bekannt für seine vielen Touristenattraktionen. Eines der bekanntesten ist der Hamburger Hafen, der einer der größten Häfen Europas ist. Es gibt auch den Fischmarkt, auf dem man frischen Fisch kaufen und lokale Spezialitäten probieren kann.

(Hamburg is known for its many tourist attractions. One of the most famous is the Port of Hamburg, which is one of the largest ports in Europe. There is also the Fish Market, where you can buy fresh fish and try local specialties.)

• die Touristenattraktionen (tourist attractions)
• bekannt (known)
• der Fischmarkt (fish market)
• frisch (fresh)
• lokale Spezialitäten (local specialties)

Außerdem gibt es viele kulturelle Veranstaltungen in Hamburg. Jedes Jahr findet das Hamburger Domfest statt, das größte Volksfest im Norden Deutschlands. Es gibt auch das Internationale Filmfest Hamburg, bei dem Filme aus der ganzen Welt gezeigt werden.

(Additionally, there are many cultural events in Hamburg. Every year, the Hamburg Dom Festival takes place, which is the largest folk festival in northern Germany. There is also the Hamburg International Film Festival, where films from all over the world are shown.)

• kulturelle Veranstaltungen (cultural events)
• das Domfest (folk festival)
• das Internationale Filmfest (international film festival)
• aus der ganzen Welt (from all over the world)

Insgesamt ist Hamburg eine lebendige und vielfältige Stadt, die für jeden etwas zu bieten hat.

(Overall, Hamburg is a vibrant and diverse city that has something to offer for everyone.)

• lebendig (vibrant)
• vielfältig (diverse)
• etwas zu bieten haben (to have something to offer)

My trip (Meine Reise)

Ich bin vor Kurzem mit meiner Familie nach Paris gereist. Wir sind direkt von unserer Stadt aus geflogen und kamen früh am Morgen in Paris an.

(I recently went on a trip to Paris with my family. We took a direct flight from our city and arrived in Paris early in the morning.)

• Vor Kurzem (recently)
• Die Reise (trip)
• Meine Familie (my family)
• Fliegen (to fly)
• Direkt (direct)
• Unsere Stadt (our city)
• Ankommen (to arrive)
• Früh (early)
• Am Morgen (in the morning)

Wir haben in einem Hotel im Herzen der Stadt gewohnt, in der Nähe vieler beliebter Sehenswürdigkeiten. Unser Hotelzimmer hatte eine tolle Aussicht auf den Eiffelturm, der nur einen kurzen Spaziergang entfernt war.

(We stayed in a hotel in the heart of the city, close to many popular tourist attractions. Our hotel room had a great view of the Eiffel Tower, which was just a short walk away.)

• das Hotel (hotel)
• die Stadt (city)
• die Nähe (proximity, closeness)
• die Sehenswürdigkeiten (tourist attractions)
• das Hotelzimmer (hotel room)
• die Aussicht (view)
• der Eiffelturm (Eiffel Tower)
• der Spaziergang (walk)

Während unseres Aufenthalts haben wir viele berühmte Wahrzeichen der Stadt besucht, darunter das Louvre-Museum und die Kathedrale Notre-Dame. Wir haben auch eine Bootsfahrt auf der Seine gemacht, was eine großartige Möglichkeit war, die Stadt aus einer anderen Perspektive zu sehen.

(During our stay, we visited many of the city’s famous landmarks, including the Louvre Museum and Notre-Dame Cathedral. We also went on a boat tour of the Seine River, which was a great way to see the city from a different perspective.)

• der Aufenthalt (stay)
• berühmte Wahrzeichen (famous landmarks)
• das Louvre-Museum (the Louvre Museum)
• die Kathedrale Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame Cathedral)
• die Bootsfahrt (boat tour)
• die Seine (the Seine River)
• aus einer anderen Perspektive (from a different perspective)

Eines der Highlights unserer Reise war das Probieren der köstlichen französischen Küche. Wir haben in vielen verschiedenen Restaurants und Cafés gegessen und alles von Croissants bis Escargots ausprobiert.

(One of the highlights of our trip was trying the delicious French cuisine. We ate at many different restaurants and cafes, and tried everything from croissants to escargots.)

• das Highlight (the highlight)
• die Reise (the trip)
• das Probieren (the trying/tasting)
• die köstliche französische Küche (the delicious French cuisine)
• das Restaurant (the restaurant)
• das Café (the café)
• alles (everything)
• der Croissant (the croissant)
• die Escargots (the escargots (snails))

Insgesamt war unser Trip nach Paris eine wunderbare Erfahrung. Wir haben die schönen Sehenswürdigkeiten, das leckere Essen und die reiche Kultur der Stadt genossen. Es war eine großartige Gelegenheit, Zeit mit meiner Familie zu verbringen und bleibende Erinnerungen zu schaffen.

(Overall, our trip to Paris was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed the beautiful sights, delicious food, and rich culture of the city. It was a great opportunity to spend time with my family and create lasting memories.)

• Insgesamt (Overall)
• Trip (trip)
• Paris (Paris)
• Eine wunderbare Erfahrung (A wonderful experience)
• Wir haben genossen (We enjoyed)
• Die schönen Sehenswürdigkeiten (The beautiful sights)
• Das leckere Essen (The delicious food)
• Die reiche Kultur der Stadt (The rich culture of the city)
• Eine großartige Gelegenheit (A great opportunity)
• Zeit mit meiner Familie zu verbringen (To spend time with my family)
• Bleibende Erinnerungen zu schaffen (To create lasting memories)

Meine Lieblingsessen (My favorite food)

Ich esse gerne viele verschiedene Arten von Essen und habe viele Lieblingsspeisen. Einige meiner Favoriten sind traditionelle deutsche Gerichte wie Schnitzel und Spätzle, Sauerkraut und Bratwurst.

(I like to eat many different types of food and have many favorite dishes. Some of my favorites are traditional German dishes like Schnitzel and Spätzle, Sauerkraut, and Bratwurst.)

• Lieblingsspeisen (favorite dishes)
• traditionelle deutsche Gerichte (traditional German dishes)
• Schnitzel (breaded and fried meat cutlets)
• Spätzle (soft egg noodles)
• Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage)
• Bratwurst (grilled or fried sausage)

Ich mag auch viele internationale Küchen, wie zum Beispiel italienische Pizza und Pasta, thailändisches Curry, indische Masala und japanisches Sushi.

(I also enjoy many international cuisines, such as Italian pizza and pasta, Thai curry, Indian masala, and Japanese sushi.)

• internationale Küchen (international cuisines)

Ein weiteres meiner Lieblingsessen ist mexikanisches Essen wie Tacos, Quesadillas und Guacamole. Die Kombination aus scharfen Gewürzen und frischen Zutaten macht das Essen zu einer Geschmacksexplosion.

(Another one of my favorite foods is Mexican cuisine like tacos, quesadillas, and guacamole. The combination of spicy seasonings and fresh ingredients makes the food a flavor explosion.)

• scharfe Gewürze (spicy seasonings)
• frische Zutaten (fresh ingredients)
• Geschmacksexplosion (flavor explosion)
• mexikanisches Essen (Mexican cuisine)
• Tacos (filled tortillas)
• Quesadillas (stuffed and grilled tortillas)
• Guacamole (dip made from mashed avocado)

Insgesamt genieße ich es, neue Gerichte und Küchen auszuprobieren und verschiedene Aromen und Texturen zu entdecken. Essen ist eine große Leidenschaft von mir und ich liebe es, zu kochen und neue Rezepte zu kreieren.

(Overall, I enjoy trying new dishes and cuisines and discovering different flavors and textures. Food is a big passion of mine, and I love to cook and create new recipes.)

• Aromen und Texturen (flavors and textures)
• Leidenschaft (passion)
• Rezepte (recipes)
• kochen (to cook)
• kreieren (to create)

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Conclusion:

In conclusion, writing essays in German can be a fun and effective way to improve your language skills. The eight essay examples provided in this article (Easy German Essays for Beginners) offer a range of topics that will help you practice your writing skills, expand your vocabulary, and gain confidence in your ability to express yourself in German. So why not try writing one of these essays today and see how much progress you can make in your German language journey?

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50 Useful German Essay Words and Phrases

by  fredo21  

January 9, 2019

2  Comments

Essay-writing is in itself already a difficult endeavor. Now writing an essay in a foreign language like German ---that’s on a different plane of difficulty.  

To make it easier for you, here in this article, we’ve compiled the most useful German essay phrases. Feel free to use these to add a dash of pizzazz into your essays. It will add just the right amount of flourish into your writing---enough to impress whoever comes across your work!

You can also download these phrases in PDF format by clicking the button below.

Now here’s your list!

What other German vocabulary list would you like to see featured here? Please feel free to leave a message in the comment section and we’ll try our best to accommodate your requests soon!

Once again, you can download your copy of the PDF by subscribing using the button below!

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Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?

Asking questions are genuinely good thing if you are not understanding anything completely, except this piece of writing provides nice understanding yet.

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German Essay Phrases: 24 Useful Expressions to Write an Essay (For Goethe Exam or Real Life)

As we often think in English first, translating our ideas into useful German phrases can be tricky.

This handy blog post includes 24 essential German essay phrases to help make your writing flow more smoothly and sound more natural. Whether you’re preparing for the Goethe exam, a GCSE test, or just want to improve your written German for real-life situations, these chunks and phrases will help you. Easy German has a great video on useful German expression:

From organizing your thoughts with transitions like “ zudem ” and “ außerdem “, to expressing your opinion with phrases like “ meiner Meinung nach ” and “ ich denke, dass… “, this post has you covered.

Write an essay with German essay phrases: learn how to structure your story

Goethe tests love a clear and logical format. They follow the same structure throughout the different levels. The good news is, when you’re learning a language, you can use these German essay phrases with these structures even in your real-life dialogues. Then, gradually, you can shift your focus to a more natural-sounding speaking.

First, begin with an engaging introduction to get the reader’s attention. This intro paragraph should also include a short thesis statement that outlines the central argument you’ll be taking.

In the body of your essay, organize your thoughts into separate paragraphs. Use transitional phrases like “ außerdem ” (furthermore) and “ zudem ” (moreover) to connect your paragraphs and create a flow.

After that, summarize your main points and restate your thesis. But! Avoid introducing new information. Leave the reader with a compelling final thought or even a call to action that makes your central argument stronger.

If you’re not certain enough, check the following list and learn about the must-have go-to German essay phrases now!

1. Erstens – Firstly

This German essay phrase is used to introduce the first point in your essay.

Erstens werden wir die Hauptargumente diskutieren. [Firstly, we will discuss the main arguments.]

2. Zweitens – Secondly

Normally, this phrase is there for you when you want to introduce the second point in a structured manner.

Zweitens betrachten wir einige Gegenbeispiele. [Secondly, we will look at some counterexamples.]

3. Drittens – Thirdly

Used to signal the third point for clarity in your argument.

Drittens ziehen wir eine Schlussfolgerung. [Thirdly, we will draw a conclusion.]

4. Einleitend muss man sagen… – To begin with, one has to say…

Start your essay with this phrase to introduce your key points.

Einleitend muss man sagen, dass dieses Thema komplex ist. [To begin with, one has to say that this topic is complex.]

5. Man muss … in Betracht ziehen – One needs to take … into consideration

When you want to consider a specific aspect in your discussion.

Man muss den historischen Kontext in Betracht ziehen. [One needs to take the historical context into consideration.]

6. Ein wichtiger Aspekt von X ist … – An important aspect of X is …

To highlight an important part…

Ein wichtiger Aspekt von Nachhaltigkeit ist die Ressourcenschonung. [An important aspect of sustainability is resource conservation.]

7. Man muss erwähnen, dass… – One must mention that …

Used to emphasize a point that need acknowledgement.

Man muss erwähnen, dass es verschiedene Ansichten gibt. [One must mention that there are different viewpoints.]

8. Im Vergleich zu – In comparison to…

To compare different elements in your essay.

Im Vergleich zu konventionellen Autos sind Elektrofahrzeuge umweltfreundlicher. [In comparison to conventional cars, electric vehicles are more eco-friendly.]

9. Im Gegensatz zu – In contrast to…

When you want to present an alternative viewpoint or argument.

Im Gegensatz zu optimistischen Prognosen ist die Realität ernüchternd. [In contrast to optimistic forecasts, reality is sobering.]

10. Auf der einen Seite – On the one hand

To add a new perspective.

Auf der einen Seite gibt es finanzielle Vorteile. [On the one hand, there are financial benefits.]

11. Auf der anderen Seite – On the other hand

Present an alternative viewpoint.

Auf der anderen Seite bestehen ethische Bedenken. [On the other hand, ethical concerns exist.]

12. Gleichzeitig – At the same time

When you want to show a simultaneous relationship between ideas.

Gleichzeitig müssen wir Kompromisse eingehen. [At the same time, we must make compromises.]

13. Angeblich – Supposedly

If you want to add information that is claimed but not confirmed.

Angeblich wurde der Konflikt beigelegt. [Supposedly, the conflict was resolved.]

14. Vermutlich – Presumably

Used when discussing something that is presumed but not certain.

Vermutlich wird sich die Situation verbessern. [Presumably, the situation will improve.]

15. In der Tat – In fact

To add a fact or truth in your essay.

In der Tat sind die Herausforderungen groß. [In fact, the challenges are great.]

16. Tatsächlich – Indeed

Emphasize a point or a fact.

Tatsächlich haben wir Fortschritte gemacht. [Indeed, we have made progress.]

17. Im Allgemeinen – In general

When discussing something in a general context.

Im Allgemeinen ist das System reformbedürftig. [In general, the system needs reform.]

18. Möglicherweise – Possibly

Spice your essay with a possibility or potential scenario.

Möglicherweise finden wir einen Konsens. [Possibly, we will find a consensus.]

19. Eventuell – Possibly

To suggest a potential outcome or situation.

Eventuell müssen wir unsere Strategie überdenken. [Possibly, we need to rethink our strategy.]

20. In jedem Fall / Jedenfalls – In any case

Used to emphasize a point regardless of circumstances.

In jedem Fall müssen wir handeln. [In any case, we must take action.]

21. Das Wichtigste ist – The most important thing is

If you want to highlight the most important thing in your saying.

Das Wichtigste ist, dass wir zusammenarbeiten. [The most important thing is that we cooperate.]

22. Ohne Zweifel – Without a doubt

To introduce a statement that is unquestionably trues.

Ohne Zweifel ist Bildung der Schlüssel zum Erfolg. [Without a doubt, education is the key to success.]

23. Zweifellos – Doubtless

Just as the previous one, when you want say something that is, without a doubt, true.

Zweifellos gibt es noch viel zu tun. [Doubtless, there is still a lot to be done.]

24. Verständlicherweise – Understandably

If you want to add a thing that is understandable in the given context.

Verständlicherweise sind einige Menschen besorgt. [Understandably, some people are concerned.]

Practice the most important German essay phrases

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Learn the language and more German essay words and sentences with Conversation Based Chunking

Conversation Based Chunking represents a powerful approach to learning language skills. It’s especially useful for productive purposes like essay writing.

By learning phrases and expressions used in natural discourse, students internalize vocabulary and grammar in context rather than as isolated rules. This method helps you achieve fluency and helps you develop a ‘feel’ for a an authentic patterns.

Chunking common multi-word units accelerates progress by reducing cognitive load compared to consciously constructing each sentence from individual words. Sign up now to get access to your German Conversation Based Chunking Guide.

Lukas is the founder of Effortless Conversations and the creator of the Conversation Based Chunking™ method for learning languages. He's a linguist and wrote a popular book about learning languages through "chunks". He also co-founded the language education company Spring Languages, which creates online language courses and YouTube content.

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Essential German Essay Phrases to Elevate Your Writing

Writing an essay in German can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the language’s unique expressions and structures. To help you navigate the intricacies of German essay writing and add sophistication to your compositions, we have compiled a list of 24 essential phrases. These phrases will not only enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing but also showcase your command over the German language .

Einleitende Sätze (Introductory Phrases):

a. Zunächst einmal… – Firstly…

b. Es ist allgemein bekannt, dass… – It is generally known that…

c. In der heutigen Gesellschaft… – In today’s society…

d. Es lässt sich nicht leugnen, dass… – It cannot be denied that…

Beispielgebende Phrasen (Exemplifying Phrases):

a. Ein gutes Beispiel hierfür ist… – A good example of this is…

b. Zum Beispiel… – For example…

c. Dies wird deutlich, wenn man… – This becomes clear when one…

d. Als Veranschaulichung kann man… – As an illustration, one can…

Verbindende Wörter (Connecting Words):

a. Darüber hinaus… – Furthermore…

b. In Bezug auf… – With regard to…

c. Im Vergleich zu… – In comparison to…

d. Einerseits… andererseits… – On the one hand… on the other hand…

Zusammenfassende Phrasen (Summarizing Phrases):

a. Abschließend lässt sich sagen… – In conclusion, it can be said…

b. Alles in allem… – All in all…

c. Zusammenfassend kann man feststellen… – In summary, one can determine…

d. Im Großen und Ganzen… – By and large…

Hervorhebende Phrasen (Emphasizing Phrases):

a. Es ist besonders wichtig zu betonen… – It is particularly important to emphasize…

b. Es steht außer Frage, dass… – There is no question that…

c. Es lässt sich nicht bestreiten… – It cannot be denied…

d. Es ist unerlässlich, dass… – It is essential that…

Kontrastierende Phrasen (Contrasting Phrases):

a. Im Gegensatz dazu… – In contrast to that…

b. Trotzdem… – Nevertheless…

c. Während… – While…

d. Allerdings… – However…

Abschließende Sätze (Concluding Sentences):

a. Zusammenfassend lässt sich festhalten… – To summarize, it can be stated…

b. Abschließend kann man sagen… – In conclusion, one can say…

c. Letztendlich… – Ultimately…

d. Abschließend bleibt zu sagen… – In conclusion, it remains to be said…

Conclusion : By incorporating these 24 essential phrases into your German essays, you will elevate your writing and demonstrate a strong command of the language. Remember to practice using these phrases in context to ensure a natural flow in your compositions. With time and practice, your German essay writing skills will flourish, allowing you to express your ideas with clarity, coherence, and sophistication. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)

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40 Best Essays of All Time (Including Links & Writing Tips)

I wanted to improve my writing skills. I thought that reading the forty best essays of all time would bring me closer to my goal.

I had little money (buying forty collections of essays was out of the question) so I’ve found them online instead. I’ve hacked through piles of them, and finally, I’ve found the great ones. Now I want to share the whole list with you (with the addition of my notes about writing). Each item on the list has a direct link to the essay, so please click away and indulge yourself. Also, next to each essay, there’s an image of the book that contains the original work.

About this essay list:

Reading essays is like indulging in candy; once you start, it’s hard to stop. I sought out essays that were not only well-crafted but also impactful. These pieces genuinely shifted my perspective. Whether you’re diving in for enjoyment or to hone your writing, these essays promise to leave an imprint. It’s fascinating how an essay can resonate with you, and even if details fade, its essence remains. I haven’t ranked them in any way; they’re all stellar. Skim through, explore the summaries, and pick up some writing tips along the way. For more essay gems, consider “Best American Essays” by Joyce Carol Oates or “101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think” curated by Brianna Wiest.

40 Best Essays of All Time (With Links And Writing Tips)

1. david sedaris – laugh, kookaburra.

A great family drama takes place against the backdrop of the Australian wilderness. And the Kookaburra laughs… This is one of the top essays of the lot. It’s a great mixture of family reminiscences, travel writing, and advice on what’s most important in life. You’ll also learn an awful lot about the curious culture of the Aussies.

Writing tips from the essay:

• Use analogies (you can make it funny or dramatic to achieve a better effect): “Don’t be afraid,” the waiter said, and he talked to the kookaburra in a soothing, respectful voice, the way you might to a child with a switchblade in his hand”.
• You can touch a few cognate stories in one piece of writing . Reveal the layers gradually. Intertwine them and arrange for a grand finale where everything is finally clear.
• Be on the side of the reader. Become their friend and tell the story naturally, like around the dinner table.
• Use short, punchy sentences. Tell only as much as is required to make your point vivid.
• Conjure sentences that create actual feelings: “I had on a sweater and a jacket, but they weren’t quite enough, and I shivered as we walked toward the body, and saw that it was a . . . what, exactly?”
• You may ask a few tough questions in a row to provoke interest and let the reader think.

2. Charles D’Ambrosio – Documents

Do you think your life punches you in the face all too often? After reading this essay, you will change your mind. Reading about loss and hardships often makes us sad at first, but then enables us to feel grateful for our lives . D’Ambrosio shares his documents (poems, letters) that had a major impact on his life, and brilliantly shows how not to let go of the past.

• The most powerful stories are about your family and the childhood moments that shaped your life.
• You don’t need to build up tension and pussyfoot around the crux of the matter. Instead, surprise the reader by telling it like it is: “The poem was an allegory about his desire to leave our family.” Or: “My father had three sons. I’m the eldest; Danny, the youngest, killed himself sixteen years ago”.
• You can use real documents and quotes from your family and friends. It makes it so much more personal and relatable.
• Don’t cringe before the long sentence if you know it’s a strong one.
• At the end of the essay, you may come back to the first theme to close the circuit.
• Using slightly poetic language is acceptable, as long as it improves the story.

3. E. B. White – Once more to the lake

What does it mean to be a father? Can you see your younger self, reflected in your child? This beautiful essay tells the story of the author, his son, and their traditional stay at a placid lake hidden within the forests of Maine. This place of nature is filled with sunshine and childhood memories. It also provides for one of the greatest meditations on nature and the passing of time.

• Use sophisticated language, but not at the expense of readability.
• Use vivid language to trigger the mirror neurons in the reader’s brain: “I took along my son, who had never had any fresh water up his nose and who had seen lily pads only from train windows”.
• It’s important to mention universal feelings that are rarely talked about (it helps to create a bond between two minds): “You remember one thing, and that suddenly reminds you of another thing. I guess I remembered clearest of all the early mornings when the lake was cool and motionless”.
• Animate the inanimate: “this constant and trustworthy body of water”.
• Mentioning tales of yore is a good way to add some mystery and timelessness to your piece.
• Using double, or even triple “and” in one sentence is fine. It can make the sentence sing.

4. Zadie Smith – Fail Better

Aspiring writers feel tremendous pressure to perform. The daily quota of words often turns out to be nothing more than gibberish. What then? Also, should the writer please the reader or should she be fully independent? What does it mean to be a writer, anyway? This essay is an attempt to answer these questions, but its contents are not only meant for scribblers. Within it, you’ll find some great notes about literary criticism, how we treat art , and the responsibility of the reader.

• A perfect novel ? There’s no such thing.
• The novel always reflects the inner world of the writer. That’s why we’re fascinated with writers.
• Writing is not simply about craftsmanship, but about taking your reader to the unknown lands. In the words of Christopher Hitchens: “Your ideal authors ought to pull you from the foundering of your previous existence, not smilingly guide you into a friendly and peaceable harbor.”
• Style comes from your unique personality and the perception of the world. It takes time to develop it.
• Never try to tell it all. “All” can never be put into language. Take a part of it and tell it the best you can.
• Avoid being cliché. Try to infuse new life into your writing .
• Writing is about your way of being. It’s your game. Paradoxically, if you try to please everyone, your writing will become less appealing. You’ll lose the interest of the readers. This rule doesn’t apply in the business world where you have to write for a specific person (a target audience).
• As a reader, you have responsibilities too. According to the critics, every thirty years, there’s just a handful of great novels. Maybe it’s true. But there’s also an element of personal connection between the reader and the writer. That’s why for one person a novel is a marvel, while for the other, nothing special at all. That’s why you have to search and find the author who will touch you.

5. Virginia Woolf – Death of the Moth

Amid an ordinary day, sitting in a room of her own, Virginia Woolf tells about the epic struggle for survival and the evanescence of life. This short essay is truly powerful. In the beginning, the atmosphere is happy. Life is in full force. And then, suddenly, it fades away. This sense of melancholy would mark the last years of Woolf’s life.

• The melody of language… A good sentence is like music: “Moths that fly by day are not properly to be called moths; they do not excite that pleasant sense of dark autumn nights and ivy-blossom which the commonest yellow- underwing asleep in the shadow of the curtain never fails to rouse in us”.
• You can show the grandest in the mundane (for example, the moth at your window and the drama of life and death).
• Using simple comparisons makes the style more lucid: “Being intent on other matters I watched these futile attempts for a time without thinking, unconsciously waiting for him to resume his flight, as one waits for a machine, that has stopped momentarily, to start again without considering the reason of its failure”.

6. Meghan Daum – My Misspent Youth

Many of us, at some point or another, dream about living in New York. Meghan Daum’s take on the subject differs slightly from what you might expect. There’s no glamour, no Broadway shows, and no fancy restaurants. Instead, there’s the sullen reality of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. You’ll get all the juicy details about credit cards, overdue payments, and scrambling for survival. It’s a word of warning. But it’s also a great story about shattered fantasies of living in a big city. Word on the street is: “You ain’t promised mañana in the rotten manzana.”

• You can paint a picture of your former self. What did that person believe in? What kind of world did he or she live in?
• “The day that turned your life around” is a good theme you may use in a story. Memories of a special day are filled with emotions. Strong emotions often breed strong writing.
• Use cultural references and relevant slang to create a context for your story.
• You can tell all the details of the story, even if in some people’s eyes you’ll look like the dumbest motherfucker that ever lived. It adds to the originality.
• Say it in a new way: “In this mindset, the dollars spent, like the mechanics of a machine no one bothers to understand, become an abstraction, an intangible avenue toward self-expression, a mere vehicle of style”.
• You can mix your personal story with the zeitgeist or the ethos of the time.

7. Roger Ebert – Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Probably the greatest film critic of all time, Roger Ebert, tells us not to rage against the dying of the light. This essay is full of courage, erudition, and humanism. From it, we learn about what it means to be dying (Hitchens’ “Mortality” is another great work on that theme). But there’s so much more. It’s a great celebration of life too. It’s about not giving up, and sticking to your principles until the very end. It brings to mind the famous scene from Dead Poets Society where John Keating (Robin Williams) tells his students: “Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary”.

• Start with a powerful sentence: “I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear.”
• Use quotes to prove your point -”‘Ask someone how they feel about death’, he said, ‘and they’ll tell you everyone’s gonna die’. Ask them, ‘In the next 30 seconds?’ No, no, no, that’s not gonna happen”.
• Admit the basic truths about reality in a childlike way (especially after pondering quantum physics) – “I believe my wristwatch exists, and even when I am unconscious, it is ticking all the same. You have to start somewhere”.
• Let other thinkers prove your point. Use quotes and ideas from your favorite authors and friends.

8. George Orwell – Shooting an Elephant

Even after one reading, you’ll remember this one for years. The story, set in British Burma, is about shooting an elephant (it’s not for the squeamish). It’s also the most powerful denunciation of colonialism ever put into writing. Orwell, apparently a free representative of British rule, feels to be nothing more than a puppet succumbing to the whim of the mob.

• The first sentence is the most important one: “In Moulmein, in Lower Burma, I was hated by large numbers of people — the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me”.
• You can use just the first paragraph to set the stage for the whole piece of prose.
• Use beautiful language that stirs the imagination: “I remember that it was a cloudy, stuffy morning at the beginning of the rains.” Or: “I watched him beating his bunch of grass against his knees, with that preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have.”
• If you’ve ever been to war, you will have a story to tell: “(Never tell me, by the way, that the dead look peaceful. Most of the corpses I have seen looked devilish.)”
• Use simple words, and admit the sad truth only you can perceive: “They did not like me, but with the magical rifle in my hands I was momentarily worth watching”.
• Share words of wisdom to add texture to the writing: “I perceived at this moment that when the white man turns tyrant it is his freedom that he destroys.”
• I highly recommend reading everything written by Orwell, especially if you’re looking for the best essay collections on Amazon or Goodreads.

9. George Orwell – A Hanging

It’s just another day in Burma – time to hang a man. Without much ado, Orwell recounts the grim reality of taking another person’s life. A man is taken from his cage and in a few minutes, he’s going to be hanged. The most horrible thing is the normality of it. It’s a powerful story about human nature. Also, there’s an extraordinary incident with the dog, but I won’t get ahead of myself.

• Create brilliant, yet short descriptions of characters: “He was a Hindu, a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes. He had a thick, sprouting mustache, absurdly too big for his body, rather like the mustache of a comic man on the films”.
• Understand and share the felt presence of a unique experience: “It is curious, but till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man”.
• Make your readers hear the sound that will stay with them forever: “And then when the noose was fixed, the prisoner began crying out on his god. It was a high, reiterated cry of “Ram! Ram! Ram! Ram!”
• Make the ending original by refusing the tendency to seek closure or summing it up.

10. Christopher Hitchens – Assassins of The Mind

In one of the greatest essays written in defense of free speech, Christopher Hitchens shares many examples of how modern media kneel to the explicit threats of violence posed by Islamic extremists. He recounts the story of his friend, Salman Rushdie, author of Satanic Verses who, for many years, had to watch over his shoulder because of the fatwa of Ayatollah Khomeini. With his usual wit, Hitchens shares various examples of people who died because of their opinions and of editors who refuse to publish anything related to Islam because of fear (and it was written long before the Charlie Hebdo massacre). After reading the essay, you realize that freedom of expression is one of the most precious things we have and that we have to fight for it. I highly recommend all essay collections penned by Hitchens, especially the ones written for Vanity Fair.

• Assume that the readers will know the cultural references. When they do, their self-esteem goes up – they are a part of an insider group.
• When proving your point, give a variety of real-life examples from eclectic sources. Leave no room for ambiguity or vagueness. Research and overall knowledge are essential here.
• Use italics to emphasize a specific word or phrase (here I use the underlining): “We live now in a climate where every publisher and editor and politician has to weigh in advance the possibility of violent Muslim reprisal. In consequence, several things have not happened.”
• Think about how to make it sound more original: “So there is now a hidden partner in our cultural and academic and publishing and the broadcasting world: a shadowy figure that has, uninvited, drawn up a chair to the table.”

11. Christopher Hitchens – The New Commandments

It’s high time to shatter the tablets and amend the biblical rules of conduct. Watch, as Christopher Hitchens slays one commandment after the other on moral, as well as historical grounds. For example, did you know that there are many versions of the divine law dictated by God to Moses which you can find in the Bible? Aren’t we thus empowered to write our version of a proper moral code? If you approach it with an open mind, this essay may change the way you think about the Bible and religion.

• Take the iconoclastic approach. Have a party on the hallowed soil.
• Use humor to undermine orthodox ideas (it seems to be the best way to deal with an established authority).
• Use sarcasm and irony when appropriate (or not): “Nobody is opposed to a day of rest. The international Communist movement got its start by proclaiming a strike for an eight-hour day on May 1, 1886, against Christian employers who used child labor seven days a week”.
• Defeat God on legal grounds: “Wise lawmakers know that it is a mistake to promulgate legislation that is impossible to obey”.
• Be ruthless in the logic of your argument. Provide evidence.

12. Phillip Lopate – Against Joie de Vivre

While reading this fantastic essay, this quote from Slavoj Žižek kept coming back to me: “I think that the only life of deep satisfaction is a life of eternal struggle, especially struggle with oneself. If you want to remain happy, just remain stupid. Authentic masters are never happy; happiness is a category of slaves”. I can bear the onus of happiness or joie de vivre for some time. But this force enables me to get free and wallow in the sweet feelings of melancholy and nostalgia. By reading this work of Lopate, you’ll enter into the world of an intelligent man who finds most social rituals a drag. It’s worth exploring.

• Go against the grain. Be flamboyant and controversial (if you can handle it).
• Treat the paragraph like a group of thoughts on one theme. Next paragraph, next theme.
• Use references to other artists to set the context and enrich the prose: “These sunny little canvases with their talented innocence, the third-generation spirit of Montmartre, bore testimony to a love of life so unbending as to leave an impression of rigid narrow-mindedness as extreme as any Savonarola. Their rejection of sorrow was total”.
• Capture the emotions in life that are universal, yet remain unspoken.
• Don’t be afraid to share your intimate experiences.

13. Philip Larkin – The Pleasure Principle

This piece comes from the Required Writing collection of personal essays. Larkin argues that reading in verse should be a source of intimate pleasure – not a medley of unintelligible thoughts that only the author can (or can’t?) decipher. It’s a sobering take on modern poetry and a great call to action for all those involved in it. Well worth a read.

• Write about complicated ideas (such as poetry) simply. You can change how people look at things if you express yourself enough.
• Go boldly. The reader wants a bold writer: “We seem to be producing a new kind of bad poetry, not the old kind that tries to move the reader and fails, but one that does not even try”.
• Play with words and sentence length. Create music: “It is time some of you playboys realized, says the judge, that reading a poem is hard work. Fourteen days in stir. Next case”.
• Persuade the reader to take action. Here, direct language is the most effective.

14. Sigmund Freud – Thoughts for the Times on War and Death

This essay reveals Freud’s disillusionment with the whole project of Western civilization. How the peaceful European countries could engage in a war that would eventually cost over 17 million lives? What stirs people to kill each other? Is it their nature, or are they puppets of imperial forces with agendas of their own? From the perspective of time, this work by Freud doesn’t seem to be fully accurate. Even so, it’s well worth your time.

• Commence with long words derived from Latin. Get grandiloquent, make your argument incontrovertible, and leave your audience discombobulated.
• Use unending sentences, so that the reader feels confused, yet impressed.
• Say it well: “In this way, he enjoyed the blue sea and the grey; the beauty of snow-covered mountains and green meadowlands; the magic of northern forests and the splendor of southern vegetation; the mood evoked by landscapes that recall great historical events, and the silence of untouched nature”.
• Human nature is a subject that never gets dry.

15. Zadie Smith – Some Notes on Attunement

“You are privy to a great becoming, but you recognize nothing” – Francis Dolarhyde. This one is about the elusiveness of change occurring within you. For Zadie, it was hard to attune to the vibes of Joni Mitchell – especially her Blue album. But eventually, she grew up to appreciate her genius, and all the other things changed as well. This top essay is all about the relationship between humans, and art. We shouldn’t like art because we’re supposed to. We should like it because it has an instantaneous, emotional effect on us. Although, according to Stansfield (Gary Oldman) in Léon, liking Beethoven is rather mandatory.

• Build an expectation of what’s coming: “The first time I heard her I didn’t hear her at all”.
• Don’t be afraid of repetition if it feels good.
• Psychedelic drugs let you appreciate things you never appreciated.
• Intertwine a personal journey with philosophical musings.
• Show rather than tell: “My friends pitied their eyes. The same look the faithful give you as you hand them back their “literature” and close the door in their faces”.
• Let the poets speak for you: “That time is past, / And all its aching joys are now no
• more, / And all its dizzy raptures”.
• By voicing your anxieties, you can heal the anxieties of the reader. In that way, you say: “I’m just like you. I’m your friend in this struggle”.
• Admit your flaws to make your persona more relatable.

16. Annie Dillard – Total Eclipse

My imagination was always stirred by the scene of the solar eclipse in Pharaoh, by Boleslaw Prus. I wondered about the shock of the disoriented crowd when they saw how their ruler could switch off the light. Getting immersed in this essay by Annie Dillard has a similar effect. It produces amazement and some kind of primeval fear. It’s not only the environment that changes; it’s your mind and the perception of the world. After the eclipse, nothing is going to be the same again.

• Yet again, the power of the first sentence draws you in: “It had been like dying, that sliding down the mountain pass”.
• Don’t miss the extraordinary scene. Then describe it: “Up in the sky, like a crater from some distant cataclysm, was a hollow ring”.
• Use colloquial language. Write as you talk. Short sentences often win.
• Contrast the numinous with the mundane to enthrall the reader.

17. Édouard Levé – When I Look at a Strawberry, I Think of a Tongue

This suicidally beautiful essay will teach you a lot about the appreciation of life and the struggle with mental illness. It’s a collection of personal, apparently unrelated thoughts that show us the rich interior of the author. You look at the real-time thoughts of another person, and then recognize the same patterns within yourself… It sounds like a confession of a person who’s about to take their life, and it’s striking in its originality.

• Use the stream-of-consciousness technique and put random thoughts on paper. Then, polish them: “I have attempted suicide once, I’ve been tempted four times to attempt it”.
• Place the treasure deep within the story: “When I look at a strawberry, I think of a tongue, when I lick one, of a kiss”.
• Don’t worry about what people might think. The more you expose, the more powerful the writing. Readers also take part in the great drama. They experience universal emotions that mostly stay inside.  You can translate them into writing.

18. Gloria E. Anzaldúa – How to Tame a Wild Tongue

Anzaldúa, who was born in south Texas, had to struggle to find her true identity. She was American, but her culture was grounded in Mexico. In this way, she and her people were not fully respected in either of the countries. This essay is an account of her journey of becoming the ambassador of the Chicano (Mexican-American) culture. It’s full of anecdotes, interesting references, and different shades of Spanish. It’s a window into a new cultural dimension that you’ve never experienced before.

• If your mother tongue is not English, but you write in English, use some of your unique homeland vocabulary.
• You come from a rich cultural heritage. You can share it with people who never heard about it, and are not even looking for it, but it is of immense value to them when they discover it.
• Never forget about your identity. It is precious. It is a part of who you are. Even if you migrate, try to preserve it. Use it to your best advantage and become the voice of other people in the same situation.
• Tell them what’s really on your mind: “So if you want to hurt me, talk badly about my language. Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity – I am my language”.

19. Kurt Vonnegut – Dispatch From A Man Without a Country

In terms of style, this essay is flawless. It’s simple, conversational, humorous, and yet, full of wisdom. And when Vonnegut becomes a teacher and draws an axis of “beginning – end”, and, “good fortune – bad fortune” to explain literature, it becomes outright hilarious. It’s hard to find an author with such a down-to-earth approach. He doesn’t need to get intellectual to prove a point. And the point could be summed up by the quote from Great Expectations – “On the Rampage, Pip, and off the Rampage, Pip – such is Life!”

• Start with a curious question: “Do you know what a twerp is?”
• Surprise your readers with uncanny analogies: “I am from a family of artists. Here I am, making a living in the arts. It has not been a rebellion. It’s as though I had taken over the family Esso station.”
• Use your natural language without too many special effects. In time, the style will crystalize.
• An amusing lesson in writing from Mr. Vonnegut: “Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college”.
• You can put actual images or vignettes between the paragraphs to illustrate something.

20. Mary Ruefle – On Fear

Most psychologists and gurus agree that fear is the greatest enemy of success or any creative activity. It’s programmed into our minds to keep us away from imaginary harm. Mary Ruefle takes on this basic human emotion with flair. She explores fear from so many angles (especially in the world of poetry-writing) that at the end of this personal essay, you will look at it, dissect it, untangle it, and hopefully be able to say “f**k you” the next time your brain is trying to stop you.

• Research your subject thoroughly. Ask people, have interviews, get expert opinions, and gather as much information as possible. Then scavenge through the fields of data, and pull out the golden bits that will let your prose shine.
• Use powerful quotes to add color to your story: “The poet who embarks on the creation of the poem (as I know by experience), begins with the aimless sensation of a hunter about to embark on a night hunt through the remotest of forests. Unaccountable dread stirs in his heart”. – Lorca.
• Writing advice from the essay: “One of the fears a young writer has is not being able to write as well as he or she wants to, the fear of not being able to sound like X or Y, a favorite author. But out of fear, hopefully, is born a young writer’s voice”.

21. Susan Sontag – Against Interpretation

In this highly intellectual essay, Sontag fights for art and its interpretation. It’s a great lesson, especially for critics and interpreters who endlessly chew on works that simply defy interpretation. Why don’t we just leave the art alone? I always hated it when at school they asked me: “What did the author have in mind when he did X or Y?” Iēsous Pantocrator! Hell if I know! I will judge it through my subjective experience!

• Leave the art alone: “Today is such a time, when the project of interpretation is reactionary, stifling. Like the fumes of the automobile and heavy industry which befoul the urban atmosphere, the effusion of interpretations of art today poisons our sensibilities”.
• When you have something really important to say, style matters less.
• There’s no use in creating a second meaning or inviting interpretation of our art. Just leave it be and let it speak for itself.

22. Nora Ephron – A Few Words About Breasts

This is a heartwarming, coming-of-age story about a young girl who waits in vain for her breasts to grow. It’s simply a humorous and pleasurable read. The size of breasts is a big deal for women. If you’re a man, you may peek into the mind of a woman and learn many interesting things. If you’re a woman, maybe you’ll be able to relate and at last, be at peace with your bosom.

• Touch an interesting subject and establish a strong connection with the readers (in that case, women with small breasts). Let your personality shine through the written piece. If you are lighthearted, show it.
• Use hyphens to create an impression of real talk: “My house was full of apples and peaches and milk and homemade chocolate chip cookies – which were nice, and good for you, but-not-right-before-dinner-or-you’ll-spoil-your-appetite.”
• Use present tense when you tell a story to add more life to it.
• Share the pronounced, memorable traits of characters: “A previous girlfriend named Solange, who was famous throughout Beverly Hills High School for having no pigment in her right eyebrow, had knitted them for him (angora dice)”.

23. Carl Sagan – Does Truth Matter – Science, Pseudoscience, and Civilization

Carl Sagan was one of the greatest proponents of skepticism, and an author of numerous books, including one of my all-time favorites – The Demon-Haunted World . He was also a renowned physicist and the host of the fantastic Cosmos: A Personal Voyage series, which inspired a whole generation to uncover the mysteries of the cosmos. He was also a dedicated weed smoker – clearly ahead of his time. The essay that you’re about to read is a crystallization of his views about true science, and why you should check the evidence before believing in UFOs or similar sorts of crap.

• Tell people the brutal truth they need to hear. Be the one who spells it out for them.
• Give a multitude of examples to prove your point. Giving hard facts helps to establish trust with the readers and show the veracity of your arguments.
• Recommend a good book that will change your reader’s minds – How We Know What Isn’t So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

24. Paul Graham – How To Do What You Love

How To Do What You Love should be read by every college student and young adult. The Internet is flooded with a large number of articles and videos that are supposed to tell you what to do with your life. Most of them are worthless, but this one is different. It’s sincere, and there’s no hidden agenda behind it. There’s so much we take for granted – what we study, where we work, what we do in our free time… Surely we have another two hundred years to figure it out, right? Life’s too short to be so naïve. Please, read the essay and let it help you gain fulfillment from your work.

• Ask simple, yet thought-provoking questions (especially at the beginning of the paragraph) to engage the reader: “How much are you supposed to like what you do?”
• Let the readers question their basic assumptions: “Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. It causes you to work not on what you like, but what you’d like to like”.
• If you’re writing for a younger audience, you can act as a mentor. It’s beneficial for younger people to read a few words of advice from a person with experience.

25. John Jeremiah Sullivan – Mister Lytle

A young, aspiring writer is about to become a nurse of a fading writer – Mister Lytle (Andrew Nelson Lytle), and there will be trouble. This essay by Sullivan is probably my favorite one from the whole list. The amount of beautiful sentences it contains is just overwhelming. But that’s just a part of its charm. It also takes you to the Old South which has an incredible atmosphere. It’s grim and tawny but you want to stay there for a while.

• Short, distinct sentences are often the most powerful ones: “He had a deathbed, in other words. He didn’t go suddenly”.
• Stay consistent with the mood of the story. When reading Mister Lytle you are immersed in that southern, forsaken, gloomy world, and it’s a pleasure.
• The spectacular language that captures it all: “His French was superb, but his accent in English was best—that extinct mid-Southern, land-grant pioneer speech, with its tinges of the abandoned Celtic urban Northeast (“boned” for burned) and its raw gentility”.
• This essay is just too good. You have to read it.

26. Joan Didion – On Self Respect

Normally, with that title, you would expect some straightforward advice about how to improve your character and get on with your goddamn life – but not from Joan Didion. From the very beginning, you can feel the depth of her thinking, and the unmistakable style of a true woman who’s been hurt. You can learn more from this essay than from whole books about self-improvement . It reminds me of the scene from True Detective, where Frank Semyon tells Ray Velcoro to “own it” after he realizes he killed the wrong man all these years ago. I guess we all have to “own it”, recognize our mistakes, and move forward sometimes.

• Share your moral advice: “Character — the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life — is the source from which self-respect springs”.
• It’s worth exploring the subject further from a different angle. It doesn’t matter how many people have already written on self-respect or self-reliance – you can still write passionately about it.
• Whatever happens, you must take responsibility for it. Brave the storms of discontent.

27. Susan Sontag – Notes on Camp

I’ve never read anything so thorough and lucid about an artistic current. After reading this essay, you will know what camp is. But not only that – you will learn about so many artists you’ve never heard of. You will follow their traces and go to places where you’ve never been before. You will vastly increase your appreciation of art. It’s interesting how something written as a list could be so amazing. All the listicles we usually see on the web simply cannot compare with it.

• Talking about artistic sensibilities is a tough job. When you read the essay, you will see how much research, thought and raw intellect came into it. But that’s one of the reasons why people still read it today, even though it was written in 1964.
• You can choose an unorthodox way of expression in the medium for which you produce. For example, Notes on Camp is a listicle – one of the most popular content formats on the web. But in the olden days, it was uncommon to see it in print form.
• Just think about what is camp: “And third among the great creative sensibilities is Camp: the sensibility of failed seriousness, of the theatricalization of experience. Camp refuses both the harmonies of traditional seriousness and the risks of fully identifying with extreme states of feeling”.

28. Ralph Waldo Emerson – Self-Reliance

That’s the oldest one from the lot. Written in 1841, it still inspires generations of people. It will let you understand what it means to be self-made. It contains some of the most memorable quotes of all time. I don’t know why, but this one especially touched me: “Every true man is a cause, a country, and an age; requires infinite spaces and numbers and time fully to accomplish his design, and posterity seems to follow his steps as a train of clients”. Now isn’t it purely individualistic, American thought? Emerson told me (and he will tell you) to do something amazing with my life. The language it contains is a bit archaic, but that just adds to the weight of the argument. You can consider it to be a meeting with a great philosopher who shaped the ethos of the modern United States.

• You can start with a powerful poem that will set the stage for your work.
• Be free in your creative flow. Do not wait for the approval of others: “What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness”.
• Use rhetorical questions to strengthen your argument: “I hear a preacher announce for his text and topic the expediency of one of the institutions of his church. Do I not know beforehand that not possibly say a new and spontaneous word?”

29. David Foster Wallace – Consider The Lobster

When you want simple field notes about a food festival, you needn’t send there the formidable David Foster Wallace. He sees right through the hypocrisy and cruelty behind killing hundreds of thousands of innocent lobsters – by boiling them alive. This essay uncovers some of the worst traits of modern American people. There are no apologies or hedging one’s bets. There’s just plain truth that stabs you in the eye like a lobster claw. After reading this essay, you may reconsider the whole animal-eating business.

• When it’s important, say it plainly and stagger the reader: “[Lobsters] survive right up until they’re boiled. Most of us have been in supermarkets or restaurants that feature tanks of live lobster, from which you can pick out your supper while it watches you point”.
• In your writing, put exact quotes of the people you’ve been interviewing (including slang and grammatical errors). It makes it more vivid, and interesting.
• You can use humor in serious situations to make your story grotesque.
• Use captions to expound on interesting points of your essay.

30. David Foster Wallace – The Nature of the Fun

The famous novelist and author of the most powerful commencement speech ever done is going to tell you about the joys and sorrows of writing a work of fiction. It’s like taking care of a mutant child that constantly oozes smelly liquids. But you love that child and you want others to love it too. It’s a very humorous account of what it means to be an author. If you ever plan to write a novel, you should read that one. And the story about the Chinese farmer is just priceless.

• Base your point on a chimerical analogy. Here, the writer’s unfinished work is a “hideously damaged infant”.
• Even in expository writing, you may share an interesting story to keep things lively.
• Share your true emotions (even when you think they won’t interest anyone). Often, that’s exactly what will interest the reader.
• Read the whole essay for marvelous advice on writing fiction.

31. Margaret Atwood – Attitude

This is not an essay per se, but I included it on the list for the sake of variety. It was delivered as a commencement speech at The University of Toronto, and it’s about keeping the right attitude. Soon after leaving university, most graduates have to forget about safety, parties, and travel and start a new life – one filled with a painful routine that will last until they drop. Atwood says that you don’t have to accept that. You can choose how you react to everything that happens to you (and you don’t have to stay in that dead-end job for the rest of your days).

• At times, we are all too eager to persuade, but the strongest persuasion is not forceful. It’s subtle. It speaks to the heart. It affects you gradually.
• You may be tempted to talk about a subject by first stating what it is not, rather than what it is. Try to avoid that.
• Simple advice for writers (and life in general): “When faced with the inevitable, you always have a choice. You may not be able to alter reality, but you can alter your attitude towards it”.

32. Jo Ann Beard – The Fourth State of Matter

Read that one as soon as possible. It’s one of the most masterful and impactful essays you’ll ever read. It’s like a good horror – a slow build-up, and then your jaw drops to the ground. To summarize the story would be to spoil it, so I recommend that you just dig in and devour this essay in one sitting. It’s a perfect example of “show, don’t tell” writing, where the actions of characters are enough to create the right effect. No need for flowery adjectives here.

• The best story you will tell is going to come from your personal experience.
• Use mysteries that will nag the reader. For example, at the beginning of the essay, we learn about the “vanished husband” but there’s no explanation. We have to keep reading to get the answer.
• Explain it in simple terms: “You’ve got your solid, your liquid, your gas, and then your plasma”. Why complicate?

33. Terence McKenna – Tryptamine Hallucinogens and Consciousness

To me, Terence McKenna was one of the most interesting thinkers of the twentieth century. His many lectures (now available on YouTube) attracted millions of people who suspect that consciousness holds secrets yet to be unveiled. McKenna consumed psychedelic drugs for most of his life and it shows (in a positive way). Many people consider him a looney, and a hippie, but he was so much more than that. He dared to go into the abyss of his psyche and come back to tell the tale. He also wrote many books (the most famous being Food Of The Gods ), built a huge botanical garden in Hawaii , lived with shamans, and was a connoisseur of all things enigmatic and obscure. Take a look at this essay, and learn more about the explorations of the subconscious mind.

• Become the original thinker, but remember that it may require extraordinary measures: “I call myself an explorer rather than a scientist because the area that I’m looking at contains insufficient data to support even the dream of being a science”.
• Learn new words every day to make your thoughts lucid.
• Come up with the most outlandish ideas to push the envelope of what’s possible. Don’t take things for granted or become intellectually lazy. Question everything.

34. Eudora Welty – The Little Store

By reading this little-known essay, you will be transported into the world of the old American South. It’s a remembrance of trips to the little store in a little town. It’s warm and straightforward, and when you read it, you feel like a child once more. All these beautiful memories live inside of us. They lay somewhere deep in our minds, hidden from sight. The work by Eudora Welty is an attempt to uncover some of them and let you get reacquainted with some smells and tastes of the past.

• When you’re from the South, flaunt it. It’s still good old English but sometimes it sounds so foreign. I can hear the Southern accent too: “There were almost tangible smells – licorice recently sucked in a child’s cheek, dill-pickle brine that had leaked through a paper sack in a fresh trail across the wooden floor, ammonia-loaded ice that had been hoisted from wet Croker sacks and slammed into the icebox with its sweet butter at the door, and perhaps the smell of still-untrapped mice”.
• Yet again, never forget your roots.
• Childhood stories can be the most powerful ones. You can write about how they shaped you.

35. John McPhee – The Search for Marvin Gardens

The Search for Marvin Gardens contains many layers of meaning. It’s a story about a Monopoly championship, but also, it’s the author’s search for the lost streets visible on the board of the famous board game. It also presents a historical perspective on the rise and fall of civilizations, and on Atlantic City, which once was a lively place, and then, slowly declined, the streets filled with dirt and broken windows.

• There’s nothing like irony: “A sign- ‘Slow, Children at Play’- has been bent backward by an automobile”.
• Telling the story in apparently unrelated fragments is sometimes better than telling the whole thing in a logical order.
• Creativity is everything. The best writing may come just from connecting two ideas and mixing them to achieve a great effect. Shush! The muse is whispering.

36. Maxine Hong Kingston – No Name Woman

A dead body at the bottom of the well makes for a beautiful literary device. The first line of Orhan Pamuk’s novel My Name Is Red delivers it perfectly: “I am nothing but a corpse now, a body at the bottom of a well”. There’s something creepy about the idea of the well. Just think about the “It puts the lotion in the basket” scene from The Silence of the Lambs. In the first paragraph of Kingston’s essay, we learn about a suicide committed by uncommon means of jumping into the well. But this time it’s a real story. Who was this woman? Why did she do it? Read the essay.

• Mysterious death always gets attention. The macabre details are like daiquiris on a hot day – you savor them – you don’t let them spill.
• One sentence can speak volumes: “But the rare urge west had fixed upon our family, and so my aunt crossed boundaries not delineated in space”.
• It’s interesting to write about cultural differences – especially if you have the relevant experience. Something normal for us is unthinkable for others. Show this different world.
• The subject of sex is never boring.

37. Joan Didion – On Keeping A Notebook

Slouching Towards Bethlehem is one of the most famous collections of essays of all time. In it, you will find a curious piece called On Keeping A Notebook. It’s not only a meditation about keeping a journal. It’s also Didion’s reconciliation with her past self. After reading it, you will seriously reconsider your life’s choices and look at your life from a wider perspective.

• When you write things down in your journal, be more specific – unless you want to write a deep essay about it years later.
• Use the beauty of the language to relate to the past: “I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be; one of them, a seventeen-year-old, presents little threat, although it would be of some interest to me to know again what it feels like to sit on a river levee drinking vodka-and-orange-juice and listening to Les Paul and Mary Ford and their echoes sing ‘How High the Moon’ on the car radio”.
• Drop some brand names if you want to feel posh.

38. Joan Didion – Goodbye To All That

This one touched me because I also lived in New York City for a while. I don’t know why, but stories about life in NYC are so often full of charm and this eerie-melancholy-jazz feeling. They are powerful. They go like this: “There was a hard blizzard in NYC. As the sound of sirens faded, Tony descended into the dark world of hustlers and pimps.” That’s pulp literature but in the context of NYC, it always sounds cool. Anyway, this essay is amazing in too many ways. You just have to read it.

• Talk about New York City. They will read it.
• Talk about the human experience: “It did occur to me to call the desk and ask that the air conditioner be turned off, I never called, because I did not know how much to tip whoever might come—was anyone ever so young?”
• Look back at your life and reexamine it. Draw lessons from it.

39. George Orwell – Reflections on Gandhi

George Orwell could see things as they were. No exaggeration, no romanticism – just facts. He recognized totalitarianism and communism for what they were and shared his worries through books like 1984 and Animal Farm . He took the same sober approach when dealing with saints and sages. Today, we regard Gandhi as one of the greatest political leaders of the twentieth century – and rightfully so. But did you know that when asked about the Jews during World War II, Gandhi said that they should commit collective suicide and that it: “would have aroused the world and the people of Germany to Hitler’s violence.” He also recommended utter pacifism in 1942, during the Japanese invasion, even though he knew it would cost millions of lives. But overall he was a good guy. Read the essay and broaden your perspective on the Bapu of the Indian Nation.

• Share a philosophical thought that stops the reader for a moment: “No doubt alcohol, tobacco, and so forth are things that a saint must avoid, but sainthood is also a thing that human beings must avoid”.
• Be straightforward in your writing – no mannerisms, no attempts to create ‘style’, and no invocations of the numinous – unless you feel the mystical vibe.

40. George Orwell – Politics and the English Language

Let Mr. Orwell give you some writing tips. Written in 1946, this essay is still one of the most helpful documents on writing in English. Orwell was probably the first person who exposed the deliberate vagueness of political language. He was very serious about it and I admire his efforts to slay all unclear sentences (including ones written by distinguished professors). But it’s good to make it humorous too from time to time. My favorite examples of that would be the immortal Soft Language sketch by George Carlin or the “Romans Go Home” scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Overall, it’s a great essay filled with examples from many written materials. It’s a must-read for any writer.

• Listen to the master: “This mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence is the most marked characteristic of modern English prose.” Do something about it.
• This essay is all about writing better, so go to the source if you want the goodies.

Other Essays You May Find Interesting

The list that I’ve prepared is by no means complete. The literary world is full of exciting essays and you’ll never know which one is going to change your life. I’ve found reading essays very rewarding because sometimes, a single one means more than reading a whole book. It’s almost like wandering around and peeking into the minds of the greatest writers and thinkers that ever lived. To make this list more comprehensive, below I included more essays you may find interesting.

Oliver Sacks – On Libraries

One of the greatest contributors to the knowledge about the human mind, Oliver Sacks meditates on the value of libraries and his love of books.

Noam Chomsky – The Responsibility of Intellectuals

Chomsky did probably more than anyone else to define the role of the intelligentsia in the modern world . There is a war of ideas over there – good and bad – intellectuals are going to be those who ought to be fighting for the former.

Sam Harris – The Riddle of The Gun

Sam Harris, now a famous philosopher and neuroscientist, takes on the problem of gun control in the United States. His thoughts are clear of prejudice. After reading this, you’ll appreciate the value of logical discourse overheated, irrational debate that more often than not has real implications on policy.

Tim Ferriss – Some Practical Thoughts on Suicide

This piece was written as a blog post , but it’s worth your time. The author of the NYT bestseller The 4-Hour Workweek shares an emotional story about how he almost killed himself, and what can you do to save yourself or your friends from suicide.

Edward Said – Reflections on Exile

The life of Edward Said was a truly fascinating one. Born in Jerusalem, he lived between Palestine and Egypt and finally settled down in the United States, where he completed his most famous work – Orientalism. In this essay, he shares his thoughts about what it means to be in exile.

Richard Feynman – It’s as Simple as One, Two, Three…

Richard Feynman is one of the most interesting minds of the twentieth century. He was a brilliant physicist, but also an undeniably great communicator of science, an artist, and a traveler. By reading this essay, you can observe his thought process when he tries to figure out what affects our perception of time. It’s a truly fascinating read.

Rabindranath Tagore – The Religion of The Forest

I like to think about Tagore as my spiritual Friend. His poems are just marvelous. They are like some of the Persian verses that praise love, nature, and the unity of all things. By reading this short essay, you will learn a lot about Indian philosophy and its relation to its Western counterpart.

Richard Dawkins – Letter To His 10-Year-Old Daughter

Every father should be able to articulate his philosophy of life to his children. With this letter that’s similar to what you find in the Paris Review essays , the famed atheist and defender of reason, Richard Dawkins, does exactly that. It’s beautifully written and stresses the importance of looking at evidence when we’re trying to make sense of the world.

Albert Camus – The Minotaur (or, The Stop In Oran)

Each person requires a period of solitude – a period when one’s able to gather thoughts and make sense of life. There are many places where you may attempt to find quietude. Albert Camus tells about his favorite one.

Koty Neelis – 21 Incredible Life Lessons From Anthony Bourdain

I included it as the last one because it’s not really an essay, but I just had to put it somewhere. In this listicle, you’ll find the 21 most original thoughts of the high-profile cook, writer, and TV host, Anthony Bourdain. Some of them are shocking, others are funny, but they’re all worth checking out.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca – On the Shortness of Life

It’s similar to the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam because it praises life. Seneca shares some of his stoic philosophy and tells you not to waste your time on stupidities. Drink! – for once dead you shall never return.

Bertrand Russell – In Praise of Idleness

This old essay is a must-read for modern humans. We are so preoccupied with our work, our phones, and all the media input we drown in our business. Bertrand Russell tells you to chill out a bit – maybe it will do you some good.

James Baldwin – Stranger in the Village

It’s an essay on the author’s experiences as an African-American in a Swiss village, exploring race, identity, and alienation while highlighting the complexities of racial dynamics and the quest for belonging.

Bonus – More writing tips from two great books

The mission to improve my writing skills took me further than just going through the essays. I’ve come across some great books on writing too. I highly recommend you read them in their entirety. They’re written beautifully and contain lots of useful knowledge. Below you’ll find random (but useful) notes that I took from The Sense of Style and On Writing.

The Sense of Style – By Steven Pinker

• Style manuals are full of inconsistencies. Following their advice might not be the best idea. They might make your prose boring.
• Grammarians from all eras condemn students for not knowing grammar. But it just evolves. It cannot be rigid.
• “Nothing worth learning can be taught” – Oscar Wilde. It’s hard to learn to write from a manual – you have to read, write, and analyze.
• Good writing makes you imagine things and feel them for yourself – use word pictures.
• Don’t fear using voluptuous words.
• Phonesthetics – or how the words sound.
• Use parallel language (consistency of tense).
• Good writing finishes strong.
• Write to someone. Never write for no one in mind. Try to show people your view of the world.
• Don’t tell everything you are going to say in summary (signposting) – be logical, but be conversational.
• Don’t be pompous.
• Don’t use quotation marks where they don’t “belong”. Be confident about your style.
• Don’t hedge your claims (research first, and then tell it like it is).
• Avoid clichés and meta-concepts (concepts about concepts). Be more straightforward!
• Not prevention – but prevents or prevented – don’t use dead nouns.
• Be more vivid while using your mother tongue – don’t use passive where it’s not needed. Direct the reader’s gaze to something in the world.
• The curse of knowledge – the reader doesn’t know what you know – beware of that.
• Explain technical terms.
• Use examples when you explain a difficult term.
• If you ever say “I think I understand this” it probably means you don’t.
• It’s better to underestimate the lingo of your readers than to overestimate it.
• Functional fixedness – if we know some object (or idea) well, we tend to see it in terms of usage, not just as an object.
• Use concrete language instead of an abstraction.
• Show your work to people before you publish (get feedback!).
• Wait for a few days and then revise, revise, revise. Think about clarity and the sound of sentences. Then show it to someone. Then revise one more time. Then publish (if it’s to be serious work).
• Look at it from the perspective of other people.
• Omit needless words.
• Put the heaviest words at the end of the sentence.
• It’s good to use the passive, but only when appropriate.
• Check all text for cohesion. Make sure that the sentences flow gently.
• In expository work, go from general to more specific. But in journalism start from the big news and then give more details.
• Use the paragraph break to give the reader a moment to take a breath.
• Use the verb instead of a noun (make it more active) – not “cancellation”, but “canceled”. But after you introduce the action, you can refer to it with a noun.
• Avoid too many negations.
• If you write about why something is so, don’t spend too much time writing about why it is not.

On Writing Well – By William Zinsser

• Writing is a craft. You need to sit down every day and practice your craft.
• You should re-write and polish your prose a lot.
• Throw out all the clutter. Don’t keep it because you like it. Aim for readability.
• Look at the best examples of English literature . There’s hardly any needless garbage there.
• Use shorter expressions. Don’t add extra words that don’t bring any value to your work.
• Don’t use pompous language. Use simple language and say plainly what’s going on (“because” equals “because”).
• The media and politics are full of cluttered prose (because it helps them to cover up for their mistakes).
• You can’t add style to your work (and especially, don’t add fancy words to create an illusion of style). That will look fake. You need to develop a style.
• Write in the “I” mode. Write to a friend or just for yourself. Show your personality. There is a person behind the writing.
• Choose your words carefully. Use the dictionary to learn different shades of meaning.
• Remember about phonology. Make music with words .
• The lead is essential. Pull the reader in. Otherwise, your article is dead.
• You don’t have to make the final judgment on any topic. Just pick the right angle.
• Do your research. Not just obvious research, but a deep one.
• When it’s time to stop, stop. And finish strong. Think about the last sentence. Surprise them.
• Use quotations. Ask people. Get them talking.
• If you write about travel, it must be significant to the reader. Don’t bother with the obvious. Choose your words with special care. Avoid travel clichés at all costs. Don’t tell that the sand was white and there were rocks on the beach. Look for the right detail.
• If you want to learn how to write about art, travel, science, etc. – read the best examples available. Learn from the masters.
• Concentrate on one big idea (“Let’s not go peeing down both legs”).
• “The reader has to feel that the writer is feeling good.”
• One very helpful question: “What is the piece really about?” (Not just “What the piece is about?”)

Now immerse yourself in the world of essays

By reading the essays from the list above, you’ll become a better writer , a better reader, but also a better person. An essay is a special form of writing. It is the only literary form that I know of that is an absolute requirement for career or educational advancement. Nowadays, you can use an AI essay writer or an AI essay generator that will get the writing done for you, but if you have personal integrity and strong moral principles, avoid doing this at all costs. For me as a writer, the effect of these authors’ masterpieces is often deeply personal. You won’t be able to find the beautiful thoughts they contain in any other literary form. I hope you enjoy the read and that it will inspire you to do your writing. This list is only an attempt to share some of the best essays available online. Next up, you may want to check the list of magazines and websites that accept personal essays .

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18 Best German Authors You Need To Know

Check out the best German authors and expand your knowledge of German literature by adding the most respected German novelists to your reading list.

The contribution of the best German authors to the field of literature is immeasurable. German writers since the Enlightenment have been producing bestsellers and some of the world’s most revered academic work. In the 19th century, the country became a powerhouse of philosophy and early modern writing.

World War I and II profoundly impacted German-language writers, and much of their work in the 20th century gave the rest of the world an insight into the tragedies of war and the brutality of the Nazi regime.

This post will give you all the details about the best German-language authors and recommend some of their top work. And if you fancy following in their footsteps, look at our article on becoming a novelist .

1. Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844 – 1900

2. heinrich heine, 1797 – 1856, 3. alfred doblin, 1878 – 1957, 4. heinrich von kleist, 1777 – 1811, 5. herman hesse, 1877 – 1962, 6. bertolt brecht, 1898 – 1956, 7. günter kunert 1929 – 2019, 8. franz kafka, 1883 – 1924, 9. heinrich boll, 1917 – 1985, 10. michael ende, 1929 – 1995, 11. bernhard schlink, 1944, 12. friedrich schiller, 1759 – 1805, 13. patrick suskind, 1949, 14. thomas mann, 1875 – 1955, 15. erich maria remarque, 1898 – 1970, 16. johann wolfgang von goethe, 1749 – 1832, 17. rainer maria rilke, 1875 – 1926, 18. günter grass, 1927 – 2015, best german authors.

Friedrich Nietzsche is a German philosopher primarily known for his work regarding nihilism and the impact of ‘the death of god” on Western society. Nietzsche is a true heavyweight in philosophy circles, and no university course would be complete without at least a handful of his books.

He was born in Saxony, then Prussia, and studied at the University of Basel, where he became the youngest to hold the Chair of Classical Philology position. During his time, Nietzsche developed several tracts of philosophical beliefs that are still widely debated and studied today. Arguably, one of his most notable concepts was the “Übermensch,” which he developed in his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra .

The Übermensch sets out a new goal for humanity beyond the promises made by Christianity that focus our attention on the afterlife instead of the present. The ideas presented by the book were highly controversial at a time when atheism was still taboo in many circles. For more recommendations like this, check out our guide to the best philosophy books .

“I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.” Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Born to Jewish parents in Dusseldorf, Heinrich Heine was a poet and author well ahead of his time. His lyric poetry was often filled with satire, and he rarely shied away from political critique. In his earlier days, Heine was a law student in Berlin, and later, he studied banking in Frankfurt and Hamburg at the behest of his family. However, Heine was never cut out for the business world and chose to focus on his writing.

Heine’s work in lyric poetry put him in the spotlight in Germany and other countries across Europe. However, the political class in Germany at the time was not fond of his harsh words, so he had to flee.

“Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.” Heinrich Heine

Alfred Doblin is often called the father of German literary modernism, even though he was born in Stettin, in modern-day Poland. Like many other authors, Doblin was born to assimilated Jewish parents. His childhood was one of turbulence and uncertainty. At a young age, he witnessed his father leave his mother for a younger woman and disappear to the US.

With his father gone, Doblin moved to Berlin with his mother and siblings, where he studied medicine as a young man. In between exams and practicals, Doblin started writing and authored several novels.

Out of all of his work, Berlin Alexanderplatz cemented his place in German literary history. Published in 1929, the story follows a recently released prisoner and his attempt to navigate the streets of Berlin, where crime and fascism were rising.

“He swore to all the world and to himself that he would remain decent. And as long as he had money, he remained decent. But then he ran out of money, which was a moment he had been waiting for, to show them all what he was made of.” Alfred Döblin , Berlin Alexanderplatz

Renowned for his exploration of moral ambiguity and the depths of the human psyche. Hailing from Frankfurt an der Oder, Kleist’s tumultuous life was marked by personal struggles and an unwavering quest for meaning. Among his notable achievements, The Marquise of O (1808) remains a standout work, unraveling the enigmatic tale of a young widow’s mysterious pregnancy and the ensuing societal judgment. 

However, it is Michael Kohlhaas (1810) that crowns Kleist’s legacy as a master of narrative complexity and psychological depth. This novella delves into the relentless pursuit of justice by Michael Kohlhaas, a horse dealer wronged by a nobleman, painting a powerful canvas of justice, revenge, and the individual’s unwavering battle against injustice. Kleist’s remarkable ability to dissect moral dilemmas and plumb the intricacies of human nature ensures his enduring influence on German literature and secures his place as a pivotal figure in early German Romanticism.

“Misconceptions are unavoidable now that we’ve eaten of the Tree of Knowledge. But Paradise is locked and bolted, and the cherubim stands behind us. We have to go on and make the journey round the world to see if it is perhaps open somewhere at the back.” Heinrich von Kleist

Herman Hesse is regarded as one of the most influential 20th-century German authors. He was born into a highly religious family that often went on ‘missions’ to India, where they attempted to sow the seeds of Christianity. Despite his rigid upbringing, Hesse was a rebel in many ways, as his work often criticized societal norms and, later, the Nazi regime.

His experiences in Asia and his traditional Western upbringing gave Hesse a unique outlook on the world. In his book ‘ Siddhartha ’ he cleverly weaves Western and Eastern philosophy together in a journey of self-discovery. If Siddhartha sounds like a book that would interest you, also read Steppenwolf , which many people consider Hesse’s finest work.

“Solitude is independence. It had been my wish and with the years I had attained it. It was cold. Oh, cold enough! But it was also still, wonderfully still and vast like the cold stillness of space in which the stars revolve.” Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf

Bertolt Brecht is a 20th-century German poet and playwright who served in the medical corps of the German army during World War I. His experiences during World War I deeply impacted the young German writer, and he struggled to adapt to normality once the peace accords were signed. He eventually moved to Berlin, where he studied theater.

Brecht’s career in Berlin was cut short when he was exiled to Scandinavia in the face of the Nazi movement’s political power grab in Germany. The Nazis eventually followed Brecht to Scandinavian, and as a result, he again went into exile, this time in the US.

Following World War II, Brecht was back in Germany, this time in East Berlin, where he built a strong reputation as a writer and founded his own theater company. The Good Person Szechwan is a play by Brecht set in the Chinese city of Sichuan and explores the core principles of morality by telling the life story of a Chinese prostitute.

“How can one remain free of every weakness, above all of the most deadly, of love?” Bertolt Brecht , The Good Person of Szechwan

Günter Kunert was renowned for his thought-provoking literary works that navigated the complexities of morality, justice, and the human experience in the aftermath of World War II. Among his best-known books, “The Execution of Justice” (1960) stands out as a profound exploration of the moral dilemmas faced by resistance fighters during the war, delving into questions of betrayal, justice, and wartime decisions. 

In the realm of poetry, Kunert’s collections, such as “Out of the Smoke” and “Poems and Lies” showcase his ability to craft introspective verses that reflect on the passage of time, the intricacies of human nature, and the power of language. Günter Kunert’s notable achievements in literature earned him recognition as a significant figure in post-war German literature, and his works continue to be celebrated for their deep philosophical insights and poignant examination of the human condition.

Despite dying young, Franz Kafka contributed more than most to 20th-century German-language literature. Kafka was born in Prague, which at the time was under Austro-Hungarian rule, to a wealthy Jewish family. He studied law as a young man but eventually gave up on the legal world and moved to Berlin to pursue his passion for the written word.

Kafka’s work is notoriously grotesque and often verges on the absurd, which wasn’t common in German literature in the early 20th century. Read our guide to the best 20th-century authors .

He is primarily known for short story writing. Consider reading Metamorphosis and The Trail to experience Kafka’s unique storytelling and dark edge. It’s almost certain that Kafka would have produced countless more classics if he hadn’t passed away at such a young age. If you want to explore more authors from neighboring countries, you might enjoy our list of the best Polish authors .

“It’s only because of their stupidity that they’re able to be so sure of themselves.” Franz Kafka, The Trial

Boll was a 1972 Nobel Prize for Literature winner and was heavily involved in political discourse following the war and criticized the German government’s human rights record. His impact on German political thought has been immortalized in the Heinrich Boll Foundation .

The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum explores propaganda and how tabloid sensationalism can often lead to panic and violence. The book was a huge hit when it was published in 1974 and has since been turned into a film.

“One would like to know, for most people, being denied reliable telepathic communication, reach for the phone, which they feel is more reliable.” Heinrich Böll, The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum

Michael Ende is a 20th-century German author who pushed fantasy and children’s fiction in German to new heights. Even though he focused primarily on children’s books, he also penned several successful adult novels. Ende’s children’s books have sold millions of copies, have been translated into around 40 languages, and some have even been recreated as movies. He was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany, and was drafted into the army at a young age. 

His most notable book is The Never Ending Story , which was translated into over 30 languages and turned into several successful films. The Never Ending Story is an excellent read for adults and children. Ende’s fantasy world in the book is brilliantly original and explores themes of innocence, childhood, and hardship.

“You must let what happens happen. Everything must be equal in your eyes, good and evil, beautiful and ugly, foolish and wise.” Michael Ende, The Neverending Story

Bernhard Schlink was born just months before the end of World War II in Bielefeld, Germany, to Swiss-German parents. His early professional life saw him embark on a successful legal career in post-war Germany. While forging a career in law, he managed to make time for writing novels, and in 1987, he published his first novel, Selbs Justiz.

He wrote The Reader a few years after Selbs Justiz, and it quickly became a bestseller. Published in 1995, The Reader looks at post-World War II Germany and the nation’s struggles with understanding the Holocaust. The Reader has sold millions of copies, been translated into over 40 languages, and often features on university reading lists.

“The tectonic layers of our lives rest so tightly one on top of the other that we always come up against earlier events in later ones, not as matter that has been fully formed and pushed aside, but absolutely present and alive. I understand this. Nonetheless, I sometimes find it hard to bear.” Bernhard Schlink, The Reader

Friedrich Schiller was born in Württemberg and, despite his short life, contributed a great deal to late 18th-century German literature. His father was a military doctor and expected his son to join him in medicine. Schiller became a doctor and, in 1780, joined an army regiment.

However, the military was not Schiller’s calling, and he went AWOL to see a play in Mannheim. He was imprisoned for two weeks for abandoning his post, but that didn’t discourage him from pursuing a career in literature.

He wrote several notable plays and poems in his short career. Arguably, his five-act tragedy play Don Carlos earned him a place among the German greats. Don Carlos is set in Northern Spain and follows the semi-factual story of Carlos, the Prince of Asturias, in the 16th Century.

“To save all we must risk all.” Friedrich von Schiller, Fiesco; or, the Genoese Conspiracy

Patrick Suskind is a 20th-century German author and screenwriter born in Bavaria just as West and East Germany started recovering from the war. After finishing his studies in Munich, he moved to Paris, where he mastered the art of writing.

France has played a central role in his writing development, and French cities often inspire his novels. Suskind’s work offers a lot if you’re interested in 18th and 19th-century France or crime thrillers . The first Suskin book to consider reading is Parfume, The Story of a Murderer, a psychological thriller set in 18th century France that was so successful that it has since been turned into a film.

“Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, and imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it.” Patrick Süskind, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

The 1929 Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann is undoubtedly one of the best-known authors globally, not just in the German literary world. Born in Germany towards the end of the 19th century Thomas Mann survived both World Wars and experienced the first decade of peace that followed the collapse of the Nazi regime.

Mann spent most of his early adulthood in Munich, where he witnessed the rise of Hitler in the 1930s. Despite the dangers, he was one of the loudest voices against fascism and regularly lectured the public on the threat of ruthless ideology.

In 1930, he held a lecture titled An Appeal to Reason in Berlin, calling for the workers and the bourgeoisie to unite against fascism. Unfortunately, Mann couldn’t shift public discourse, and in the mid-1930s, he moved to neutral Switzerland, where he was advised to remain as Hitler rose to power in his native country. Later in his life, Mann moved to the US and back to Switzerland but never returned to Germany.

Out of all his essays, novels, and books, Buddenbrooks is arguably his most important piece. The story follows a wealthy German family attempting to adapt to modernity across several generations. Buddenbrooks earned Mann the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929.

“Death was a blessing, so great, so deep that we can fathom it only at those moments, like this one now, when we are reprieved from it. It was the return home from long, unspeakably painful wanderings, the correction of a great error, the loosening of tormenting chains, the removal of barriers—it set a horrible accident to rights again.” Thomas Mann, Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family

Erich Maria Remarque is best known for his novel All Quiet on the Western Front, which has been turned into several films, including a highly successful adaptation by Netflix in 2023. He was born in Osnabruck, Germany, and was drafted into the German army as a young man following the outbreak of World War I.

He experienced the horrors of trench warfare in World War I, and this is often reflected in his work. After surviving the war, he began writing, and in 1929, he published All Quiet on the Western Front.

The story is a profoundly moving insight into German soldiers’ terror during the First World War. It gives the reader an insight into the young men who joined the war effort on patriotic grounds only to be thrown into one of the most deadly conflicts ever unleashed on the European continent.

An additional aspect of All Quiet on the Western Front that makes it a must-read is how it examines the long-term trauma that the German soldiers took home after the war.

Remarque’s criticism of the German war effort was labeled unpatriotic by the Nazi regime, and he lived out his life in exile. If you enjoyed learning about the best German authors and want to explore other authors from around the globe, you might be interested in reading our guide on the best French authors .

“I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another.” Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe contributed significantly to German language literature. He’s regarded as one of the best 19th-century authors . Goethe was born in Frankfurt and made a name for himself as an early Sturm und Drang literary movement member. Beyond writing, he also forged a successful political career, securing several high-ranking government roles.

The Sorrows of Young Werther was Goethe’s first highly successful publication. The story is a collection of letters that focus on a young man’s first experience of love. The story was hugely popular in late 18th-century Europe and became one of Napoleon’s favorites.

Consider Faust if you want to read just one of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s books . It took Goethe the best part of half a century to write Faust, the two-part tragedy that tells the story of a man who makes a deal with the devil and inspires several future German writers, including Nietzsche and Beckett.

“The human race is a monotonous affair. Most people spend the greatest part of their time working in order to live, and what little freedom remains so fills them with fear that they seek out any and every means to be rid of it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther

Rainer Maria Rilke was an Austrian poet and writer regarded as one of the most significant German writers. His work is viewed as possessing mysticism, exploring subjective experience and disbelief.

Rike traveled throughout Europe and eventually settled in Switzerland, which inspired many of his passionate poems. Rike’s poems “Duino Elegies” and “Sonnets to Orpheus” delve into themes of existential longing, solitude, and the human condition with a lyrical and reflective elegance.

His “Letters to a Young Poet” collection is addressed to a 19-year-old cadet at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. Give readers guidance on the creative process and insight into what makes a great poet.

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

Günter Grass was a German writer but also an artist and a sculptor. He was born in Poland and was drafted into the military as a teenager in 1944. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the US forces but was released in April 1946. Grass began writing in the 1950s and published his first novel, The Tin Drum, in 1959, the first book of his Danzig trilogy. His works are considered left-wing in tone, with Grass actively supporting the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

The Tin Drum captures the complex history of 20th-century Germany through the eyes of protagonist Oskar. Grass’s signature narrative style uses magical realism to provide insight into the many emotions Oskar experiences. With themes of guild, identity, societal change and fascism, this novel is complex and intriguing.

“Today I know that all things are watching, that nothing goes unseen, that even wallpaper has a better memory than human beings.” Günter Grass, The Tin Drum

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

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13 Most Beautiful German Quotes (& The Inspiring Figures Behind Them)

Germans get a bit typecast as “serious” people, but there’s so much more to them than that!

There are actually a great number of creative people of German descent!

There are many writers, poets, play writers, and philosophers, who come from Germany and did their best and most expressive work in their native language. 

There are also many famous figures in the realms of science and politics who spoke German and expressed themselves beautifully in their native tongue. 

Given the hidden depths of German culture, and how many people in the world speak German, there are actually a lot of beautiful, profound, and sensible quotes about life that are in German. Here is a sampling of some of the most beautiful German quotes out there.

1. Denke an all das Schöne, was in dir selbst und dich herum wächst und sei glücklich!

English Translation : Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy!

Many cultures all over the world are familiar with the story of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who kept a diary which she filled with hopeful and beautiful thoughts, even as she and her family were hiding and fearing for their lives from the Nazis. This quote about still being able to appreciate the beauty and feel joy, no matter the circumstances, deserves the number one spot in this list of most beautiful German quotes. 

2. Lebe, wie du, wenn du stirbst, wünschen wirst, gelebt zu haben.

English Translation : Live like, when you die, you will wish to have lived.

This is an example of how some of the most beautiful German quotes come from poets and writers of German descent. This lovely line about how to live one’s best life is from a 1757 poem by Christian Fürchtegott Gellert called “Vom Tode” or “From Death”.

3. Ein jeder kehr’ vor seiner Tür, und rein ist jedes Stadtquartier.

English Translation : It’s a German necessity to speak badly of the government over a beer.

This quote from Otto von Bismarck , the first chancellor of the German Empire, sums up the way that German’s think about politics. For Germans, local and national politics is something that everyone, even the “ordinary” German, should be aware of and capable of talking about even in casual conversation. Possibly because of their keen sense of history, German’s consider it important to be politically aware and keep a critical eye on the doings of the government.

4. Wir leben alle unter dem gleichen Himmel, aber wir haben nicht alle den gleichen Horizont.

English Translation : We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon.

This quote from Konrad Adenauer, who was the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, is a gentle reminder of the systemic circumstances that keep us all from being “equal”. While we are all human, political, economic, and social circumstances sometimes limit the opportunities some people get.  

5. Wer sein selbst Meister ist und sich beherrschen kann, dem ist die weite Welt und alles untertan.

English Translation : He, who is master of himself and has command over his emotions, has at his feet the whole wide world and everything therein.

This wise and beautiful German quote about the importance of self-control is actually the ending of a poem by Paul Fleming. The poem, “ An Sich ” or “To Oneself” was written back in 1641 but is still considered good advice for living today. You should try to find it, reading or listening to poetry and songs in German is a fun and easy way to learn.

6. Auch aus Steinen, die einem in den Weg gelegt werden, kann man Schönes bauen.

English Translation : Even from the stones placed in your way for you to stumble on, you can create something beautiful.

This quote from Goethe is a reminder that life’s hardships are not insurmountable and what seems like a stumbling block now might actually give you a boost towards achieving something better. Goethe, full name Johan Wolfgang von Goeth is an example of a very accomplished German man, being not just a poet, playwright, and novelist but also a scientist and statesman. Many of the people behind the quotes on this list are worth looking into and Goeth’s works are highly recommended as he is one of the greatest German literary figures of the modern era .

7. Wir denken selten an das, was wir haben, aber immer an das, was uns fehlt.

English Translation: We rarely think of what we have, but always of what we lack.  

This wise and beautiful German quote from the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer is quite similar to the idea behind the English idiom which states that the “grass is always greener on the other side”. Both are a gentle admonishment against envy, and the perils of always thinking about what other people have instead of enjoying what you yourself have.

8. Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich starker

English Translation : What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.

If there is one quote in the list of most beautiful German quotes that is easily recognizable even to non-German speakers, it would probably be this quote from the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It’s from his 1889 book "Götzen-Dämmerung" or “Twilight of the Idols”. If you’ve heard or used this quote in English, well, now you know how it’s said in the original language.

9. Jeder, der sich die Fähigkeit erhält, Schönes zu erkennen, wird nie alt werden.

English Translation: Anyone who holds on to the ability to see beauty never grows old.

This quote about the importance of being aware of the beauty of the world around us comes from the novelist and short-story writer Franz Kafka. This statement by Kafka was included in a book by his friend the Czech poet and memoirist Gustav Janouch titled  “Gespräche mit Kafka”  or “Conversations with Kafka”.

10. Alle Zeit, die nicht mit dem Herzen wahrgenommen wird, ist verlorene Zeit.

English Translation : All time that is not experienced with the heart is lost time.

Another beautiful German quote about the importance of living fully in the moment and being aware of everything that is going on around us, from Michael Ende.  Ende is a beloved writer of children’s fantasy fiction, his epic fantasy “The Neverending Story” wasn’t just translated into English but also made into a series of Hollywood movies in the 80s and 90s. 

11. Das Schönste, was wir erleben können, ist das Geheimnisvolle.

English Translation: The most beautiful thing we can experience is a mystery.

Many of the most beautiful German quotes in this list have something to do with how you look at life and this quote from physicist Albert Einstein gives us some insight on one of the greatest brains in the 20th century looked at life. Given all the scientific discoveries Einstein either directly made or inspired, it’s not surprising that he approached everything with a healthy curiosity and an open mind. He didn’t despair if he didn’t understand something; rather he saw it as a challenge.

12. Wer kämpft, kann verlieren.Wer nicht kämpft, hat schon verloren.

English Translation: He who fights can lose, but he who does not fight has already lost.

Many wise German expressions and idioms talk about the value of persevering, even in the face of hardship. This quote from Bertolt Brecht is much in the same vein. Brecht was a playwright born in 1898 who served his country in World War I but was forced to flee when the Nazis came to power.  

13. Das Leben und dazu eine Katze, das gibt eine unglaubliche Summe.

English Translation: Life and a cat, that adds up to an incredible sum.

Many people will tell you that the secret to enjoying life is to appreciate the little things or to gain the affections of a cat. In this quote, that seems to be what poet Rainer Marie Rilke believed was the key to a satisfying existence.

You might be wondering why we are recommending that you take the time to study these beautiful German quotes. Wouldn’t your time be better spent memorizing common German conversational phrases ?

While it is important to learn German words – even slang and swear words – if you want to develop the ability to hold daily conversations with German speakers, that’s not the only reason to learn German.

To really understand German-speakers, you need to also know and study what is in their hearts and minds. How they think and feel about love and life, what makes them sad and happy –these are all things you can learn by studying quotes such as the ones in this post. 

As we mentioned at the start of this post, there are many famous people of German descent who have a lot of interesting things to say, and the quotes here are just a small sample. 

If you’re interested in becoming fluent in a new language, check out these top online learning resources: Kick off your learning with Babbel , where interactive, enjoyable lessons are designed to blend smoothly into your routine, fostering fast and effective language learning. For those aiming for an in-depth understanding, Udemy provides a broad spectrum of courses from basic to advanced levels. To enhance your speaking skills, Preply connects you with native speakers for personalized coaching, ensuring significant improvement. Take advantage of a 50% discount on your first lesson at Preply with this link .

What are the most beautiful German quotes?

1. Denke an all das Schone, was in dir selbst und dich herum wachst und sei glucklich! - Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy! 2. Lebe, wie du, wenn du stirbst, wunschen wirst, gelebt zu haben. - Live like, when you die, you will wish to have lived. 3. Ein jeder kehr vor seiner Tur, und rein ist jedes Stadtquartier. - It’s a German necessity to speak badly of the government over a beer. 4. Wir leben alle unter dem gleichen Himmel, aber wir haben nicht alle den gleichen Horizont. - We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon. 5. Wer sein selbst Meister ist und sich beherrschen kann, dem ist die weite Welt und alles untertan. - He, who is master of himself and has command over his emotions, has at his feet the whole wide world and everything therein.

What does this mean - Auch aus Steinen, die einem in den Weg gelegt werden, kann man Schones bauen?

Even from the stones placed in your way for you to stumble on, you can create something beautiful.

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Discovering the Beauty of German Literature: Top 10 Must-Read Classics

German literature boasts a rich history of captivating stories, profound philosophical ideas, and thought-provoking themes that have shaped the literary world. This article will introduce you to the beauty of German literature by highlighting ten must-read classics. From the masterpieces of Goethe and Schiller to modern works that continue to inspire readers, these books represent some of the most celebrated contributions to German literature. So, let’s dive into the world of German literary classics and explore the stories that have enthralled generations of readers.

#1 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Faust”

“Faust” is arguably the most famous work by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of Germany’s greatest literary figures. This two-part tragic play tells the story of Heinrich Faust, a scholar who grows disillusioned with his life and makes a deal with the devil, Mephistopheles. Faust agrees to exchange his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures, leading him on a journey of passion, betrayal, and redemption.

Goethe’s “Faust” is a masterpiece of German literature that explores themes such as the quest for knowledge, the nature of human desire, and the struggle between good and evil. The play’s rich language, vivid characters, and intricate plot have cemented its status as a classic that continues to captivate readers and audiences alike.

#2 Friedrich Schiller: “Die Räuber”

Friedrich Schiller’s “Die Räuber” (The Robbers) is another seminal work in German literature. This drama, written in 1781, revolves around the conflict between two brothers, Karl and Franz von Moor. Karl, the elder brother, is charismatic and idealistic but becomes disillusioned with society and forms a group of robbers, while Franz, the younger brother, manipulates their father to gain power and wealth. As the story unfolds, the brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the law, leading to a tragic climax.

“Die Räuber” is a gripping tale that explores themes such as individual freedom, morality, and the struggle for power. Schiller’s vivid characters, intense emotions, and dramatic storytelling have made “Die Räuber” a classic of German literature and a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the richness of the German theatrical tradition.

#3 Heinrich Heine: “Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen”

Heinrich Heine’s “Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen” (Germany. A Winter’s Tale) is a satirical narrative poem that offers a critical view of Germany’s political and social climate during the 19th century. Written in 1844, Heine uses humor and irony to convey his observations on the state of his homeland.

The poem follows Heine as he travels through Germany, commenting on the various aspects of the country that he finds noteworthy. His witty and insightful commentary touches on themes such as censorship, nationalism, and religion. “Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen” is a must-read for those interested in German history, politics, and literature, as it provides a unique perspective on the era in which it was written.

#4 Thomas Mann: “Der Zauberberg”

“Der Zauberberg” (The Magic Mountain) is a monumental novel by Thomas Mann, one of the most influential German writers of the 20th century. Published in 1924, the story is set in a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Swiss Alps and follows the experiences of Hans Castorp, a young man who originally planned to stay for just three weeks but ends up staying for seven years.

The novel delves into the lives of the sanatorium’s inhabitants, their conversations, and the ideas that permeate their isolated world. “Der Zauberberg” grapples with themes such as the passage of time, the nature of illness, and the complexity of human existence. Mann’s rich and intricate prose offers an in-depth exploration of various philosophical, political, and cultural ideas, making it a cornerstone of German literature. The novel’s intellectual depth and complex narrative structure have solidified its reputation as a literary classic that continues to challenge and engage readers.

#5 Franz Kafka: “Die Verwandlung”

“Die Verwandlung” (The Metamorphosis) is a novella by Franz Kafka, one of the most renowned German-language authors of the 20th century. Although Kafka was born in Prague and wrote in German, his works have become an essential part of the German literary canon. Published in 1915, “Die Verwandlung” tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes up one day to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect.

Kafka’s surreal and unsettling narrative explores themes such as alienation, identity, and the struggle for understanding in a world that seems indifferent to individual suffering. “Die Verwandlung” is considered a seminal work of existential literature and serves as an introduction to Kafka’s unique style and worldview. Its blend of absurdity, tragedy, and psychological insight has made it a must-read for those looking to experience the best of German literature.

#6 Hermann Hesse: “Steppenwolf”

“Steppenwolf” is a groundbreaking novel by Hermann Hesse, a German-Swiss author who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946. Published in 1927, the novel tells the story of Harry Haller, a middle-aged man who feels alienated from society and struggles to reconcile his human nature with his inner “wolf.” As he navigates his existential crisis, Haller encounters various characters and experiences that challenge his beliefs and ultimately lead him on a path of self-discovery.

“Steppenwolf” delves into themes such as individuality, self-acceptance, and the search for meaning in life. The novel’s unique blend of introspective psychological exploration and vivid imagery has made it a beloved classic in the world of German literature.

#7 Bertolt Brecht: “Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder”

“Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder” (Mother Courage and Her Children) is a groundbreaking play by Bertolt Brecht, one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century. Written in 1939, the play is set during the Thirty Years’ War and follows the story of Anna Fierling, nicknamed “Mother Courage,” as she tries to profit from the conflict while keeping her children safe.

Brecht’s “Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder” is a powerful exploration of the human cost of war and the moral dilemmas faced by those trying to survive in a world ravaged by conflict. The play’s innovative theatrical techniques and poignant social commentary have made it a cornerstone of modern drama and an essential work of German literature.

#8 Günter Grass: “Die Blechtrommel”

“Die Blechtrommel” (The Tin Drum) is a novel by Günter Grass, a German author who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1999. Published in 1959, the story follows the life of Oskar Matzerath, a boy who decides to stop growing at the age of three and retains the ability to shatter glass with his voice. The novel is set against the backdrop of World War II and the subsequent division of Germany.

“Die Blechtrommel” is a masterpiece of magical realism that weaves together history, politics, and the personal experiences of its protagonist. The novel’s complex narrative structure, dark humor, and imaginative storytelling have made it a classic of German literature and a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the unique perspective it offers on 20th-century history.

#9 Christa Wolf: “Kassandra”

“Kassandra” is a novel by Christa Wolf, one of the most important German writers of the post-World War II era. Published in 1983, the story reinterprets the myth of Cassandra, the Trojan princess who was gifted with the power of prophecy but cursed with the fate of never being believed. The novel is set during the Trojan War and offers a feminist perspective on the events, focusing on the experiences and struggles of its female protagonist.

Christa Wolf’s “Kassandra” is a thought-provoking work that explores themes such as power, patriarchy, and the consequences of war. Its unique narrative voice and insightful reinterpretation of classical mythology make it a standout work of German literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

#10 Patrick Süskind: “Das Parfum”

“Das Parfum” (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) is a historical novel by Patrick Süskind, published in 1985. The story is set in 18th-century France and follows the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man born without a body odor but with an extraordinary sense of smell. Obsessed with creating the perfect scent, Grenouille turns to murder in his quest to capture the essence of human beauty.

“Das Parfum” is a captivating and macabre tale that weaves together elements of history, suspense, and the supernatural. The novel’s intricate plot, vivid descriptions, and unforgettable protagonist have made it a bestseller and a classic of German literature.

German literature offers a treasure trove of thought-provoking and captivating stories that have influenced the course of literary history. From the masterpieces of Goethe and Schiller to the groundbreaking works of Kafka and Grass, these ten must-read classics showcase the depth, diversity, and beauty of German writing. Each of these works provides a unique perspective on the human experience, exploring themes such as love, war, identity, and the search for meaning in life.

Whether you are a seasoned reader of German literature or just beginning your exploration, these classics offer a gateway to the rich world of German storytelling. By immersing yourself in these influential works, you will not only gain a deeper appreciation for the German language and culture but also engage with ideas and narratives that have shaped the literary landscape for generations.

Embark on your literary journey with these ten must-read German classics and discover the beauty, complexity, and power of German literature. With their timeless appeal and enduring themes, these works will continue to inspire, challenge, and entertain readers for years to come.

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Famous Authors from Germany

List of the most popular authors from Germany, listed alphabetically with photos when available. For centuries authors have been among the world's most important people, helping chronicle history and keep us entertained with one of the earliest forms of storytelling. Whether they're known for fiction, non-fiction, poetry or even technical writing, the famous German authors on this list have kept that tradition alive by writing renowned works that have been praised around the world. You can find useful information below about these notable German writers, such as when they were born and where their place of birth was.

This list of famous German authors include Stefan Heym, Friedrich Schlotterbeck and more, answering the questions, "Which famous authors are from Germany?" and "Who are the best German authors?"

For further information on these historic German authors, click on their names. If you're a bookworm then use this list of celebrated authors from Germany to discover some new books that you will enjoy reading.

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90 Amazing German Idioms For Every Occasion To Speak German Fluently

When you learn German , learning German idioms ( Redewendungen ) is a fun and effective way to boost your language fluency.

You'll hear numerous references to sausages, condiments, bread, and other delicious German foods. These phrases also provide valuable insights into German culture and history that will help you become familiar with the German way of life. 

While some German idioms sound similar to their English counterparts, others are entirely different. Literal translations don't always make sense, which is why even advanced learners have trouble identifying the meaning of a phrase. 

The 90 German idioms below are essential phrases you'll need to become fluent in German. You'll find the literal translations along with the English equivalent and a short description. I hope some of these German idioms give you a good laugh and inspire you to keep learning the German language!

By the way, if you want to learn German fast and have fun while doing it, my top recommendation is  German Uncovered  which teaches you through StoryLearning®. 

With  German Uncovered  you’ll use my unique StoryLearning® method to learn German grammar naturally through story… not rules. It’s as fun as it is effective.

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1. Um den heißen Brei herumreden

Literal Translation – Talk around the hot porridge.

English Meaning – Beat around the bush.

Although you may not need this phrase very often with your direct German friends, it could come in useful if you want to sound more like a native speaker. If you want someone to get to the point, tell them:  

• Rede nicht um den den heißen Brei herum . (Don't (you) beat around the bush.)

2. Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen

Literal Translation – You can put poison on that!

English Meaning – You can bet your life on it!

This following German idiom doesn't sound very friendly, but it means that something is a sure thing. For example, if someone asks if you think you'll pass your next German exam, you can respond with this phrase.

• Ich weiß, dass ich die Prüfung bestehen werde. Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen! (I know that I'll pass the exam. You can bet your life one it!

3. Sich zum Affen machen

Literal Translation – Make an ape of yourself

English Meaning – Make a fool of yourself

Instead of making a fool of themselves, Germans turn into monkeys or apes. If you think someone is misbehaving, you can say:

• Mach dich nicht zum Affen! (Don't make a fool of yourself!)

4. Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen

Literal Translation – Hit two flies with one swat.

English Meaning – Kill two birds with one stone.

The next time you do two things at once, remember this German idiom that has been around since the 8 th century. 

• Du kannst zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen. (You can hit two flies with one stone.)

5. Eine Extrawurst verlangen

Literal Translation – Demand an extra sausage.

English Meaning – Demand special treatment

Imagine the entitlement someone must have to demand an extra sausage! Although this German idiom includes a food reference, use this expression to speak about entitled individuals in a disapproving tone.

• Warum verlangst du immer eine Extrawurst?! (Why do you always demand special treatment?!)

6. Himmel und Hölle in Bewegung setzen

Literal Translation – Set heaven and hell in motion.

English Meaning – Move heaven and earth.

When you think of a romantic phrase to say to your loved one, you probably don't think about including the word “hell.” In German, it's completely acceptable to say you'll do anything to achieve a goal. 

• Ich setze Himmel und Hölle in Bewegung. (I'm moving heaven and earth.)

7. Da steppt der Bär

Literal Translation – The bear dances there

English Meaning – A party that's off-the-hook

In German, the idea of a dancing bear signifies a party you won't want to miss! The next time you want to get everyone rushing to a party, remember to tell them:  

• Du musst dort sein. Da steppt der Bär. (You have to be there. The party is off-the-hook.)

8. Tomaten auf den Augen haben

Literal Translation – Have tomatoes on the eyes.

English Meaning – Blind to something

Sometimes in life, we can all be oblivious to facts staring us straight in the face. In German, you might have tomatoes on your eyes that are distorting your perception of reality.

• Hast du Tomaten auf den Augen? Sie will dich nur für dein Geld. (Are you blind? She only wants you for your money.)

9. Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen

Literal Translation – Hit the nail on the head.

English Meaning – Hit the nail on the head.

This German idiom is the same as the English version. When someone is spot-on doing something correctly, let them know. 

• Du hast den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen. (You hit the nail on the head.)

10. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof

Literal Translation – I only understand train station.

English Meaning – It's all Greek to me.

When your German friend uses an idiom that you don't understand, you can respond with this idiom, which means you can't make heads or tails out of the conversation. 

• Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof. Kannst du nochmal erklären? (It's all Greek to me. Can you explain again?)

11. Weggehen wie warme Semmeln

Literal Translation – Leave like warm rolls.

English Meaning – Sell like hotcakes.

The word Semmeln is a colloquial term for Brötchen (bread rolls). You can use this phrase to talk about a product or service that's selling fast and in high demand. 

• Mein neues Design geht weg wie warme Semmeln. (My new design is selling like hotcakes.)

12. Seinen Senf dazugeben

Literal Translation – Add his mustard to it.

English Meaning – Give your two cents worth.

Once again, a favorite German food makes its way into a well-known idiom. Instead of giving your two cents to express your opinion, you add your mustard.

• Er muss immer seinen Senf dazugeben. (He always has to give his opinion.)

13. Jemandem die Daumen drücken

Literal Translation – Press the thumbs for someone.

English Meaning – Cross your fingers.

In English, we cross our fingers for someone to wish them luck. But, in German, you have to press your thumbs into the palm of your hand. 

• Sei nicht nervös. Wir drücken dir die Daumen! (Don't be nervous, we have our fingers crossed for you!)

14. Etwas wie seine Westentasche kennen

Literal Translation – Know something like your vest pocket.

English Meaning – Know something like the back of your hand.

Similar to the English expression, this German idiom stresses how well you know something.

• Ich wohne seit zwanzig Jahren in Berlin. Ich kenne die Stadt wie meine Westentasche . (I've lived in Berlin for 20 years. I know the city like the back of my hand.)

15. Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben

Literal Translation – One shouldn't praise the day before the evening.

English Meaning – You shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch. 

When you celebrate prematurely, you could risk disappointment later. You can warn others in German by telling them not to praise the day before the evening arrives.

• Wir haben Fortschritte gemacht, aber wir sollten den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben. (We made progress, but we shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch. 

16. Jemandem ein Ohr abkauen

Literal Translation – Chew off someone's ear.

English Meaning – Talk off someone's ear.

Some people don't know when to stop speaking. At times, you might even feel like your ear is about to fall off. In German, chewing off someone's ear means you're annoying them with your endless rambling.

• Ich habe Martha an ihrem Geburtstag angerufen, und sie hat mir ein Ohr abgekaut für zwei Studen. (I called Martha on her birthday, and she talked my ear off for two hours.)

17. Klar wie Kloßbrühe

Literal Translation – Clear as dumbling broth

English Meaning – Crystal clear

Ironically, German dumpling soup isn't a clear liquid but a milky white. Nevertheless, you can confirm that you fully understand your German friends with this colloquial expression. Don't be surprised if you hear someone exchange Kloßbrühe for a different but similar brothy dish. 

• Du musst dich nicht wiederholen. Die Anweisungen sind klar wie Kloßbrühe! (You don't have to repeat yourself. The instructions are crystal clear!)

18. Dumm wie Bohnenstroh

Literal Translation – Dumb as bean straw

English Meaning – Dumb as a post

This idiom's origin came from a centuries-old tradition when peasants used leftover plant cuttings, or bean straw, to fill their mattresses. Because poorer classes were assumed to be unintelligent, the term dumb as bean straw emerged.

• Die Kandidaten sind dumm wie Bohnenstoh. (The candidates are as dumb as posts.)

19. Die Kirche im Dorf lassen

Literal Translation – Leave the church in the village.

English Meaning – Don't get carried away.

When someone gets carried away with excitement, you might need to remind them that their ideas are becoming overwhelming. Before the invention of electricity, a town crier would announce important events at the church. Hence, the origin of this unusual German idiom, which means, settle down. 

• Wir müssen die Kirche im Dorf lassen. (We have to keep a cool head.)

20. Schwein haben

Literal Translation – Have a pig.

English Meaning – Be lucky.

In German, you'll often find pigs symbolizing good luck. When something incredible happens to you, let everyone know you've had a pig using this German idiom.

• Heute habe ich Schwein gehabt! Ich habe 50 Euro auf dem Boden gefunden. (I got lucky today! I found 50 Euros on the floor.)

21. Die Salamitaktik anwenden

Literal Translation – Use the salami tactic.

English Meaning – The Salami tactic is a stealthy approach to admit the truth.

A Salamitaktik is the name given to a distinct method someone uses to reveal the truth bit by bit.

Expensive German salami comes in extra-thin slices. You might need to eat hundreds of slices before you get to the end, which is where the meaning of the expression originates.

The person using the Salamitaktik is trying to soften the blow of whatever they are trying to say. 

• Versuchst du die Salamitaktik anzuwenden? (Are you trying to use the salami tactic?)

22. Da haben wir den Salat

Literal Translation – There, we have the salad.

English Meaning – We're in a big mess.

Sometimes you warn somebody about the consequences of their actions, but they just don't listen. You know that a trainwreck is about to happen, but there's nothing you can do about it. Similar to “I told you so,” you can use this German idiom to remind someone that you foresaw the entire predicament. 

• Du hast die Regeln ignoriert. Jetzt haben wir den Salat. (You ignored the rules. Now we're in a mess.)

23. Das fünfte Rad am Wagen sein

Literal Translation – Be the fifth wheel on the wagon. 

English Meaning – Be the third wheel.

Instead of saying someone is the third wheel, Germans say someone is the fifth wheel when they are the odd man out. If somebody tags along uninvitedly, this German idiom could be appropriate.

• Ich möchte nicht das fünfte Rad am Wagen sein. (I don't want to be a third wheel.)

24. Einen Vogel haben

Literal Translation – Have a bird. 

English Meaning – Crazy

Someone who has a bird in German must be out of their mind. The expression originates from the belief that crazy people must have a little bird in their heads. Typically, Germans use this idiom as an insult. 

• Du hast einen Vogel! (You're insane!)

25. Geld aus dem Fenster werfen

Literal Translation – Throw money out the window.

English Meaning – Throw money out the window.

Some German idioms are the same as their English counterparts like this one. When someone is wasting money or overspending, this expression can come in handy. 

• Warum wirfst du Geld aus dem Fenster? (Why are you throwing money away?)

26. Eine Leiche im Keller haben

Literal Translation – Have a (dead) body in the basement.

English Meaning – Have skeletons in the closet.

Some German idioms seem to paint the most atrocious images in your mind, and this one is no exception. The English phrase of having skeletons in the closet is a tamer way of saying you have secrets from the past. As the Germans say, a skeleton in the closet, or body in the basement, can also be an embarrassing or unpleasant memory you keep to yourself. 

• Es scheint ihnen gut zu gehen, aber die Familie hat eine Menge Schulden. Das ist nicht ihre einzige leiche im Keller, die sie haben. (They seem to be well-off, but the family has a lot of debt. That's not their only skeleton in the closet.)

27. Lügen haben kurze Beine

Literal Translation – Lies have short legs.

English Meaning – You won't get far with lies. 

This German idiom is a reminder that the truth always comes out eventually and that lies won't get you very far. You can use this phrase to say, “you won't get away with this,” to a liar. The expression is also similar to the English idiom, “liar, liar, pants on fire.”

• Vergiss nicht, dass Lügen kurze Beine haben. (Don't forget that lies get exposed.)

28. Fix und fertig

Literal Translation – Quick and ready

English Meaning – At the end of your rope.

When you're worn-out, exhausted, or at your wit's end, this German idiom could be the perfect way to describe your emotional and physical state. After powering through a long workday or challenging activity, it's not unusual for a person to feel fix und fertig . 

• Nach zwölf Stunden Arbeit bin ich fix und fertig. (After 12 hours of work, I'm completely exhausted.)

29. Ich glaube ich spinne

Literal Translation – I think I spider.

English Meaning – I can't believe it.

Sometimes, you can't believe what you're hearing or seeing. In this case, you can use the popular German idiom that doesn't make any sense when translated literally. Similar to “you've got to be kidding,” or “I think I'm losing my mind,” this phrase is appropriate to use when you hear a shocking announcement. 

• Du hast ein neues Auto gekauft ohne mich zu fragen? Ich glaube ich spinne. (You bought a new car without asking me? You've got to be joking.)

30. Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen

Literal Translation – Act like the offended liver sausage

English Meaning – Act like a prima Donna. 

Use this German idiom to describe anyone who is easily offended, a sore loser, or acting difficult. Typically, the liver sausage is the last sausage of choice for most Germans, who tend to choose the more appealing varieties first. 

• Du hast nur eine Runde verloren. Jetzt spiel nicht die beleidigte Leberwurst. (You only lost one round. Don't act like a sore loser now.)

31. Einen Kater haben

Literal Translation – Have a tomcat.

English Meaning – Be hungover.

After a night of drinking too much German beer or wine, you might end up with a hangover or Kater . Originally, Kater comes from the word Katarrh , a condition involving inflammation of the mucous membranes. Over time, the pronunciation of the word became Kater .

• Viele Deutsche klagen über einen Kater am Neujahrstag. (Many Germans complain about a hangover on new year's day.)

32. Alles hat ein Ende, nur eine Wurst hat zwei

Literal Translation – Everything has an end. Only a sausage has two. 

English Meaning – Nothing lasts forever. 

Everything ends at some point, which is where the following German idiom gets its roots. The sausage reference adds a dash of humor to an otherwise depressing reminder of our mortality. 

• Sei nicht so traurig. Alles hat ein Ende, nur eine Wurst hat zwei. (Don't be so sad. Everything has to come to an end eventually.)

33. Ein Affentheater aufführen

Literal Translation – To throw an ape theater performance.

English Meaning – Throw a fit. 

If you can imagine a group of apes throwing a fit, you'll easily understand this German idiom. A person who is overreacting and beginning to behave like an uncivilized animal may inspire you to bust out this phrase. 

• Hör auf so ein Affentheater aufzuführen! (Stop throwing such a fit!) 

34. Unter einer Decke stecken

Literal Translation – Hide under a blanket. 

English Meaning – Be in cahoots.

When you keep a secret between yourself and someone else, or a small group of people, you may be in cahoots. If you're keeping the secret from others, Germans say you're “hiding under a blanket.”

• Wir müssen die Überraschungsparty geheim halten. Er darf nicht wissen dass wir unter einer Decke stecken. (We have to keep the surprise party secret. He can't find out that we're in cahoots. 

35. Das Ei des Kolumbus

Literal Translation – The egg of Columbus

English Meaning – A light bulb moment.

Ever spend hours searching for a solution to a problem, only to discover that the answer was strikingly straightforward the entire time? Once you know how to do something, it seems easy enough, but getting to that point doesn't always happen immediately. Germans call this phenomenon finding the egg of Columbus.

• Endlich habe ich das Ei des Kolumbus gefunden. (I finally found the simple solution.)

36. Das Haar in der Suppe suchen/finden

Literal Translation – Search for/Find the hair in the soup.

English Meaning – Find fault with something.

Overly-critical and pessimistic individuals in German are often referred to as searching for hairs in the soup. One way to remind someone to be less negative is with this idiom that expresses your disapproval of the person's outlook. 

• Manche Menschen müssen immer das Haar in der Suppe suchen . (Some people always have to find fault with something.)

37. Ich glaube mein Schwein pfeift

Literal Translation – I think my pig is whistling.

English Meaning – When pigs fly!

Express your astonishment during the most unexpected moments with this useful German idiom. Like the English phrase, “when pigs fly,” the German version uses the verb whistle instead of fly. This expression is also valuable to express sarcasm when you believe something is nonsense. 

• Ich glaube mein Schwein pfeift! Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass er über 40 ist. (I don't believe it! I never would have thought that he's over 40.)

38. Es ist alles in Butter

Literal Translation – It's all in butter.

English Meaning – It's all good.

Everything is better when it's covered in butter in this German idiom. If someone asks how you are, you can use this phrase to let them know you feel fine and that everything is hunky-dory.

• Es ist alles in Butter. Ich mach mich gemütlich. (I'm fine. I'm making myself comfortable.)

39. Da fresse ich glatt einen Besen

Literal Translation – I'll smoothly chow down on a broom.

English Meaning – I'll eat my hat if that's the truth.

Yet another sarcastic way to reply to a statement you find hard to believe is the phrase, “I'll eat a broom.” In English, you might say, “I'll eat my hat,” to express your reluctance to believe something.

• Wenn du recht hast, fresse ich einen Besen. (If you're right, I'll eat my hat.)

40. Wir sitzen schōn in der Tinte!

Literal Translation – We're sitting in ink nicely.

English Meaning – We're in a lot of trouble. 

When you find yourself in a jam, use this German idiom. Many times, this phrase implies someone is having financial difficulties. 

• Warum sitzt du so tief in der Tinte? (Why are you in so much trouble?)

41. Mich laust der Affe

Literal Translation – The ape is delousing me. 

English Meaning – Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle.

One way to announce that you're surprised in German is with this exclamation of bewilderment. Sometimes, you might hear something that takes you off-guard. This knowledge could even be as shocking as a random monkey coming up and delousing you.

Next time you're blown away by a story, you can put your feelings into words with this fun German idiom. 

• Ich glaube, mich laust der Affe. (Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle.)

42. Nach jemandes Pfeife tanzen

Literal Translation – Dance to someone's flute.

English Meaning – Do everything someone else's way. 

If anyone expects you to bend over backward to please them, you might end up dancing to their flute instead of your own. In English, you might say you're dancing to someone's tune, blindly obeying, or doing their bidding.

• Ich muss nicht nach deiner Pfeife tanzen! (I don't have to do everything you say!)

43. Voller Bauch studiert nicht gern

Literal Translation – A full stomach doesn't like to study.

English Meaning – Fat belly, lean brain

Most Germans know that it's essential to take a break after eating before returning to your mental tasks. This phrase is helpful after lunch when you start to feel sleepy and not at your most productive.

• Ich brauche noch 15 Minuten. Voller Bauch studiert nicht gern. (I still need 15 minutes. A full stomach doesn't like to study.)

44. Jemanden ausnehmen wie eine Weihnachtsgans

Literal Translation – Tear someone apart like a Christmas goose.

English Meaning – Take someone to the cleaners'.

Although this phrase might sound like an intimidating remark or threat, it refers to shamelessly taking someone's every last penny. When you prepare a Christmas goose, you typically remove the insides to insert the stuffing. A similar English idiom is, “to rob someone blind.”

• Die Organization hat uns ausgenommen wie eine Weihnachtsgans. (The organization robbed us of everything we had.)

45. Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier

Literal Translation – Sleep like a marmot.

English Meaning – Sleep like a log. 

Marmots are known for sleeping particularly long and deep. The animals also have long hibernation periods, making them an ideal analogy. If you've had a similarly restful slumber, you can let others know how rejuvenated you are with this German idiom.

• Ich habe wie ein Murmeltier geschlafen. (I slept like a baby.)

46. Schlau wie ein Fuchs sein

Literal Translation – As clever as a fox

English Meaning – As clever as a fox

You must be as smart as a fox if you're brilliant. This idiom, which is the same in German and English, stems from the fact that foxes are skilled at finding food and shelter in many different environments. 

• Du hast alle Antworten richtig. Du bist schlau wie ein Fuchs. (You got all the answers correct. You're as bright as a fox.)

47. Wie Pilze aus dem Boden schießen

Literal Translation – Shoot out of the ground like mushrooms.

English Meaning – Spring up everywhere.

When something proliferates within a short time, it's said to shoot out of the ground like mushrooms, at least in German. Under the right circumstances, mushrooms start growing everywhere in the forest, where this German idiom gets its origins.

• Online-Shops sind überall. Sie schießen wie Pilze aus dem Boden. (Online shops are everywhere. They're springing up like mushrooms.)

48. Krokodilstränen weinen

Literal Translation – Cry crocodile tears.

English Meaning – Insincere display of remorse.

Someone pretending to feel sorry about something is shedding crocodile tears. The saying stems from the notion that crocodiles don't feel guilty about eating their victims. Once the animal bites down on its prey, the pressure of its jaw closing presses on the tear ducts. Although the crocodile appears to be crying, it's not remorseful.

• Er weint immer Krokodilstränen wenn er erwischt wird. (He always sheds crocodile tears when he gets caught.)

49. Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst

Literal Translation – Whoever comes first eats first. 

English Meaning – First-come, first-serve.

If a limited supply of something is available, you might only have the chance to get it on a first-come, first-serve basis. This similar German idiom means the same thing. Whoever is the first person in line at the bakery is the first to get their bread, so you better not be last. Another meaning could be, “the early bird gets the worm.” 

• Die Konzertkarten sind auf einer wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst Basis angeboten. (The concert tickets are offered on a first-come first-serve basis.)

50. Wie Kraut und Rüben

Literal Translation – Like cabbage and turnips. 

English Meaning – topsy-turvy

Traditionally, farmers planted cabbage and turnips together in the field. In contrast to other vegetables, farmers mix these two chaotically. After harvesting, the cabbage and turnips also cook well together. Now, the expression means something is all mixed up or a mess.

• Deine Wohnung sieht aus wie Kraut und Rüben. (Your apartment looks like a mess.)

51. Das Zünglein an der Waage

Literal Translation – The pointer on the scale.

English Meaning – Tip the scale.

This is one of those German idioms that's relatively straightforward. Use the phrase to describe a deciding factor that tips the scale or balance. The Zünglein is the pointer on a scale that shows an exact measurement. Additionally, this phrase can mean “tie-breaker.”

• Die entgültige Abstimmung ist das Zünglein an der Waage. (The final vote is the tie-breaker.)

52. Jacke wie Hose

Literal Translation – Jacket like pants.

English Meaning – It doesn't matter.

Most jackets and pantsuits are made from the same fabric, which is where the meaning of this phrase comes from. When you use this expression, you're saying that it doesn't matter whether you choose option A or option B. The outcome will be the same. 

• Es ist Jacke wie Hose. (It doesn't make a difference.)

53. Turteltauben sein

Literal Translation – Be turtle doves.

English Meaning – Be lovebirds.

Two turtle doves are a sign of love, both in German and English. This is one of those German idioms to talk about two people who can't get enough of each other. 

• Kommt ihr zwei Turteltauben, oder nicht? (Are you two lovebirds coming, or not?)

54. Seine Felle davonschwimmen sehen

Literal Translation – See his furs floating away.

English Meaning – Watch your hopes and dreams fade away.

Another melancholy German saying describes the tragic phenomenon of watching your hopes and dreams disappear before your eyes.

The traditional work of tanning hides had the potential to become a lucrative business. The craftsmen had to be careful not to lose the pelts while cleaning them in the river. If your grip wasn't firm enough, you might end up watching your dreams float away.

• Wir haben plötzlich unsere Felle davonschwimmen gesehen. (We suddenly saw our dreams fading away.)

55. Auf der Leitung stehen

Literal Translation – Stand on the wires.

English Meaning – A mental block

Similar to “I have my wires crossed,” this phrase is another way of saying that you're confused or don't understand something.

Years ago, when the telephone connections were poor, some would say that someone was standing on the line, causing the bad signal. Consequently, communication and understanding were missing.

Today, the expression means that someone is slow to catch on to what's happening.

• Stehst du auf der Leitung? (Are you slow to catch on?)

56. Jemanden übers Ohr hauen

Literal Translation – Go over someone's ear.

English Meaning – Cheat, pull a fast one.

A blow above the ear line is against the rules and dangerous to the opponent in a fencing game. Because this type of move involves brutality, the term evolved to mean lying, cheating, or stiffing somebody.

• Du hast mich übers Ohr gehaut! (You set me up!) 

57. Jemanden über den Tisch ziehen

Literal Translation – Pull someone over the table.

English Meaning – Use somebody, mop the floor with someone (in a game)

Pulling someone over the table can mean that you ripped someone off, exploited them, or beat them mercilessly at their favorite board game. The phrase gets its origins from a traditional Alpine competition in which two players hook their middle fingers together with their elbows on the table. Then, both pull until one pulls the other over the table and wins.

• Du versuchst mich über den Tisch zu ziehen. (You're trying to rip me off.)

58. Gift und Galle spucken

Literal Translation – Spit poison and bile.

English Meaning – Fly off the handle.

Someone furious might reach their boiling point and start spitting fire, or in German, poison, and bile. 

• Er spuckt Gift und Galle, weil er nicht mehr das Sagen hat. (He's flying off the handle because he doesn't have the say anymore.)

59. Butter bei die Fische

Literal Translation – Butter with the fish.

English Meaning – In all honesty/Give more effort.

This grammatically incorrect phrase is interesting because the accusative die follows the dative preposition bei . Another peculiarity is that this saying has two different meanings.

First, you can use this German idiom to mean, in all honesty, to be frank or to cut to the chase. A second use for this expression can mean giving your best effort or give it some elbow grease.

• Jetzt mal Butter bei die Fische. Hast du die Schule geschwänzt? (In all honesty, now. Did you skip school/play hooky?)
• Gib ein bißchen Butter bei die Fische und du kannst in einer Stunde fertig sein. (Give some elbow grease and you can be done in an hour.)

60. Den schwarzen Peter zuschieben

Literal Translation – Pass the black Peter.

English Meaning – Pass the blame.

Pointing the finger at or shifting the blame to someone else is known as passing the black Peter in German.

The idiom stems from an old children's card game. What we now think of as the Joker in a card deck was called the black Peter. When you put an inconvenient task into someone else's lap or play the blame game, you're passing them the Joker or most unwanted card in the deck.

• Diesmal kannst du nicht deinem Bruder den schwarzen Peter zuschieben. (You can't pass the blame onto your brother this time.)

61. Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer

Literal Translation – One swallow doesn't make a summer.

English Meaning – There's still a ways to go.

Celebrating too soon could set you up for disappointment down the line. With this German idiom, you can remind someone not to count their chickens before they hatch.

• Wir haben den ersten Schritt gemacht, aber eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen sommer . (We took the first step, but there's a long way to go.)

62. Da brat mir einer einen Storch

Literal Translation – Someone is roasting a stork for me.

This is one of those creepy-sounding German idioms, but don't take it literally. Storks are thought to bring good fortune, which is why Germans traditionally protect and cherish them. The idea of roasting one is unimaginable, which is where this exclamation of surprise gets its roots. 

• Da brat mir einer einen Storch! Sowas habe ich noch nie gesehen. (I'm shocked! I never saw something like that.)

63. Den Schalk im Nacken haben

Literal Translation – Have the joker on the neck.

English Meaning – Be up to mischief.

If you're dealing with a prankster, joker, or another mischievous person, this German idiom can describe someone who's a pain in your neck. 

• Er hat den Schalk im Nacken. (He's up to mischief.) 

64. Auf Wolke 7 schweben

Literal Translation – Float on cloud seven. 

English Meaning – Float on cloud nine. 

Achieving the highest level of euphoria, bliss, and ultimate happiness is known as floating on cloud nine in English or cloud seven if you're German. According to the saying, God lives in the clouds in seventh heaven. This cloud is where the happiest angels live. Usually, this expression means someone is falling in love.

• Seit dem Urlaub schweben wir auf Wolke sieben. (We're floating on cloud nine since the vacation.)

65. Kleider machen Leute

Literal Translation – Clothes make people. 

English Meaning – Clothes make the man. 

Based on a short story in Swiss literature, you might recognize this German idiom from the similar English version. This phrase can remind someone of the importance of making an excellent first impression by dressing appropriately.

• Kleider machen Leute ist besonders wahr in einem Geschäftsumfeld. (Clothes make people is especially true in a business setting.)

66. Tabula Rasa machen

Literal Translation – Smoothly scraped board.

English Meaning – Start from a clean slate.

The term tabula rase stems from a Latin phrase meaning a smoothly scraped board or clean slate. If you're getting a fresh start or a new beginning, this idiom could provide an excellent opening line when meeting new friends. You can also use this phrase negatively to emphasize that your point is not to start over from scratch.

• Wir wollen keine Tabula Rasa machen. (We don't want to start from scratch.)

67. Eine Rabenmutter sein

Literal Translation – Be a raven mother.

English Meaning – Be a bad mother. 

In German, if a mother fails to meet her parental responsibilities, she must be a raven mother. Because the bird's babies leave the nest before they can fly, the misconception arose that they are bad parents. Although the superstition isn't true, the idiom is still commonplace.

• Ich fühle mich wie eine Rabenmutter. (I feel like a bad mother.)

68. Die Büchse der Pandora öffnen

Literal Translation – Open Pandora's box

English Meaning – Open Pandora's box

Here's one of those German idioms you'll probably recognize from its English counterpart. When you open Pandora's box, you're likely to set off a chain reaction, whether that's for the better or worse.

• Wie oft muss du noch die Büchse der Pandora öffnen? (How many more times do you have to reopen Pandora's box?)

69. Sich ins gemachte Nest setzen

Literal Translation – Sit in the made nest. 

English Meaning – Have it made.

Whether you marry rich or are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, the idea behind this German idiom is that you can just sit back and relax in the nest someone else made. The phrase comes from the actions of the cuckoo bird, which steals pre-built nests from other birds instead of making its own. You can use this expression in various ways. 

• Sie hat sich ins gemachte Nest gesetzt. (She married for money.)
• Wir haben die ganze Arbeit gemacht. Sie hat sich einfach ins gemachte Nest gesetzt. (We did all the work. She just rode along on our success.)

70. Einen Eiertanz aufführen

Literal Translation – Perform an egg dance.

English Meaning – Walk on eggshells.

A story from Goethe describes a scene with a floor full of eggs and a girl who danced carefully through them without touching a single one. Now, the idiom often depicts how careful you have to be around susceptible subjects or people. 

• Sie führt immer einen Eiertanz auf weil sie niemanden auf die Füße treten will. (She always walks on eggshells because she doesn't want to offend anyone.)

71. Den Kürzeren ziehen

Literal Translation – Pull the shorter one.

English Meaning – Get the short end of the stick. 

Where there's a winner and a loser, the loser typically ends up with the short end of the stick. In one children's game, everyone has to pick a straw, one of which is shorter than the others. The person with the short straw loses. This idiom describes someone disadvantaged, short-changed, or who had bad luck. 

• Jedes mal ziehst du den Kürzeren. (You lose every time.)

72. Wie du in den Wald hineinrufst, so schallt's heraus

Literal Translation – The forest echos back what you shout into it. 

English Meaning – Treat others how you want to be treated. 

Similar to “you reap what you sow,” this German idiom serves as a reminder that what goes around comes around. 

• Bevor du die Beherrschung verlierst, denke daran, dass hier gilt: wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus. (Before you lose control, remember the rule that what goes around comes around.)

73. Jemanden den Hof machen

Literal Translation – Make someone's farm.

English Meaning – Court someone

When love is in the air, an interested person may decide to woo that special someone with dates, gifts, and other thoughtful gestures. In German, the phrase, make someone's farm, describes the process of courting someone or paying attention to them. 

• Er hat mir Blumen und Schokolade geschenkt! Er macht mir ganz schön den Hof. (He gifted me flowers and chocolate! He's really making an effort to court me.)

74. Viele Wege führen nach Rom

Literal Translation – Many roads lead to Rome. 

English Meaning – Many roads lead to Rome. 

There's more than one way to get something done, which is meant in this following idiom. This is one of those German idioms that's nearly identical to the English saying, this expression means there could be multiple solutions to a challenge.

• Man weiß nie. Eine neue Denkweise könnte die Lösung sein. Viele wege führen nach Rom. (You never know. A new way of thinking could be the solution. Many roads lead to Rome.) 

75. Das macht den Kohl auch nicht fett

Literal Translation – That doesn't make the cabbage fat either. 

English Meaning – It won't make a difference.

German idioms about cabbage are a thing. Here's another one that gives you a way to say something doesn't matter or won't help significantly. 

• Schöne Worte machen den Kohl nicht fett. (Nice words don't change anything.)

76. Sich die Hörner abstoßen

Literal Translation – Shed one's horns.

English Meaning – Let one's guard down.

Someone who's feeling uptight and unrelaxed might need to let their guard down, or in German, shed their horns. Horns are often a sign of stubbornness and difficulty letting go. By shedding them, you're ready to have fun, go wild, and let loose.

• Die Studenten wollen sich die Hörner abstoßen bevor Semesterbeginn. (The students want to have some fun before the new semester begins.)

77. Den Faden verlieren

Literal Translation – Lose the thread.

English Meaning – Lose your train of thought.

If you start to tell a story and forget your point mid-way through, you may have lost the thread in German. In English, you'd say you lost your train of thought or got derailed.

• Lass uns nicht den Faden verlieren. (Let's not get off-track.)

78. In Teufels Küche kommen

Literal Translation – Come into the devil's kitchen. 

English Meaning – Be in a sticky situation.

The devil's kitchen isn't a safe place to be, which makes this reference a suitable way to say you're in deep trouble. 

• Wir kommen alle in Teufels Küche mit deinem Fehlverhalten. (All of us are getting into trouble with your bad behavior.)

79. Nach Strich und Faden

Literal Translation – According to stitch and thread.

English Meaning – Good and proper.

When something is done correctly or in tremendous detail, this phrase can emphasize that someone took the utmost care in doing it. 

• Du verwöhnst uns nach Strich und Faden. (You spoil us rotten.)

80. Jemanden an der Nase herumführen

Literal Translation – Lead someone around by the nose.

English Meaning – Give someone the runaround.

If someone leads you on a merry chase or gives you the runaround, they're most likely trying to deceive you. In the world of German idioms, someone is leading you around by the nose to fool you.

• Ich lass mich nicht länger an der Nase herumführen. (I won't be fooled any longer.)

81. Zur Strecke bringen

Literal Translation – Bring to the stretch.

English Meaning – Take someone down.

Imagine taking down a robber, criminal, or opponent often results in a chase when you hear this German idiom. The home stretch is the final fight before catching the wrong-doer in their actions.

• Die Polizei haben den Täter zur Strecke gebracht. (The police took down the perpetrator.)

82. Oberwasser haben

Literal Translation – Have headwater.

English Meaning – Have the upper hand.

Having headwater can have several different meanings in German. First, the idiom can mean having a good time. A second meaning is to have the upper hand. Finally, the phrase can mean someone who wants to be first. 

• Wir werden endlich Oberwasser haben. (We'll finally have fun.)
• Er muss immer Oberwasser haben. (He always wants to be first.)
• Nach der letzten Stimmenzahl hat die Partei wieder Oberwasser. (After the last vote count, the party has the upper-hand again.)

83. Ungeschoren davonkommen

Literal Translation – Get off scot-free.

English Meaning – Get off scot-free.

This German idiom is describing a narrow escape where you get off unscathed or with only a slap on the wrist. Use this expression after a close call that could have had you in severe trouble.

• Ich kann kaum glauben, dass du ungeschoren davongekommen bist. (I can hardly believe that you got away with it.)

84. Man hat schon Pferde kotzen sehen

Literal Translation – You already saw horses vomiting.

English Meaning – Crazier things have happened.

Although extremely rare, horses can occasionally vomit if they eat the wrong food. This vulgar German idiom means, you never know, anything could happen.

• Natürlich hast du keine große Chance, aber man hat schon Pferde kotzen gesehen. (Of course you don't have much of a chance, but nothing is impossible.)

85. Schuster, bleib bei deinen Leisten

Literal Translation – Shoemaker, stick to your strengths.

English Meaning – Stick to what you know.

You can break out this German expression to remind someone to stop talking about subjects outside their realm of knowledge. 

• Schuster, bleib bei deinen Leisten. Ich bin hier der Architekt. (Don't meddle in affairs you don't understand. I'm the architect here.)

86. Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben

Literal Translation – Have a board in front of the head.

English Meaning – Have your head in the sand.

Farmers sometimes use boards or other blinders to keep cattle calm while leading them to a new pasture. In German, someone may have a board in front of their head if they overlook the obvious. 

• Er war schon immer in dich verliebt. Hast du ein Brett vor dem Kopf? (He has always been in love with you. Are you blind?)

87. Die Katze im Sack kaufen

Literal Translation – Buy the cat in the bag. 

English Meaning – Buy a horse sight unseen.

Making a purchase without checking the terms and conditions first could have dire consequences. When someone buys something without understanding all the details, you can pull out this German idiom.

• Einkaufen für Mystery-Boxen ist wie eine Katze im Sack zu kaufen. (Shopping for mystery boxes is like buying a horse sight unseen.)

88. Mit den Wölfen heulen

Literal Translation – Howl with the wolves.

English Meaning – When in Rome

When in Rome, do what the Romans do. This German idiom is a way of saying, do what the locals do by blending in with everyone else. 

• Man muss mit den Wölfen heulen. (When in Rome.)

89. Das Gelbe vom Ei sein

Literal Translation – Be the yolk of the egg. 

English Meaning – The bee's knees

The best thing since sliced bread, the cream of the crop, and something to write home about are equivalent English expressions for this German idiom. Something that's the absolute best is coined the yolk of the egg. Similarly, a negative connotation means something isn't anything the greatest.

• Die Suchfunktion ist nicht gerade das Gelbe vom Ei. (The search function needs improvement.)

90. Im Dreieck springen

Literal Translation – Jump in a triangle. 

English Meaning – Go off the deep end.

Jumping in a triangle is another way of expressing how angry you are in German. Like going off the deep end in English, this idiom is an ideal way to put your inner unrest into words.

• Ich springe gleich im Dreieck. (I'm about to go off the deep end.)

Final Thoughts On German Idioms

I hope you enjoyed learning all of these German idioms. As you continue to learn German, you'll discover new and entertaining expressions all the time.

Language learning requires your committed dedication, and what better way to stay motivated than by adding practical, everyday phrases to your knowledge bank.

So now look out for these German idioms when you listen to German podcasts or read in German . Or even when you watch German TV shows and watch German movies .

Until next time, Ich drück dir die Daumen!

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35 Inspiring German Proverbs and Quotes for German Learners (with Pronunciation)

Perhaps you’re a student of German who’s rock solid in German greetings and common German phrases .

Learning German proverbs can inspire you to take that final step toward achieving fluency. Even beginning learners can add some to their repertoire!

In this article, we will equip you with a whole treasure trove of proverbs that you can use in everyday conversations.

• 1. Aller Anfang ist schwer.
• 2. Des Teufels liebstes Möbelstück ist die lange Bank.

3. Wer rastet, der rostet.

4. anfangen ist leicht, beharren eine kunst., 5. aus schaden wird man klug., 6. das billige ist immer das teuerste., 7. du siehst den wald vor lauter bäumen nicht., 8. erst denken, dann handeln., 9. eile mit weile., 10. kümmere dich nicht um ungelegte eier., 11. krummes holz gibt auch gerades feuer., 12. man muss die dinge nehmen, wie sie kommen., 13. morgenstund hat gold im mund., 14. selbst ist der mann. / selbst ist die frau..

• 15. Taten sagen mehr als Worte.
• 16. Übung macht den Meister.

17. Wer zwei Hasen auf einmal jagt bekommt keinen.

• 18. Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen.
• 19. Wenn der Reiter nichts taugt, ist das Pferd schuld.
• 20. Der Hunger kommt beim Essen.

21. Dienst ist Dienst und Schnaps ist Schnaps.

22. bald reif hält nicht steif., 23. nur die harten kommen in den garten..

• 24. Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei. 

25. Kleinvieh macht auch Mist

26. das leben ist kein ponyhof, 27. kinder und betrunkene sagen immer die wahrheit, 28. wenn man dem teufel den kleinen finger gibt, so nimmt er die ganze hand, 29. klappe zu, affe tot, 30. was ich nicht weiß, macht mich nicht heiß, 31. was hänschen nicht lernt, lernt hans nimmermehr, 32. stochere nicht im bienenstock, 33. wo sich die füchse gute nacht sagen, 34. besser ein spatz in der hand, als eine taube auf dem dach, 35. arbeit ist die beste jacke, and one more thing....

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1 . Aller Anfang ist schwer.

Literal translation: “All beginnings are hard.”

No matter what you are undertaking in life—learning a language, embarking on a new career or starting a project from scratch—you will suck at it at first.

That’s part of the natural order and the way it should be. Don’t worry too much and just keep at it until you get it right.

2 . Des Teufels liebstes Möbelstück ist die lange Bank.

Literal translation: “The devil’s favorite piece of furniture is the long bench.”

In German, putting something on the “long bench” means putting it off ( etwas auf die lange Bank schieben – another very good addition to your German slang phrases ).

Seems like Germans knew about procrastination long before the word was on everyone’s lips. What are you putting on the “long bench” that you could take care of right now? Don’t let the devil win.

Literal translation: “He who rests grows rusty.”

This saying states that in order to improve your skills, you have to continuously work on them. It also warns that if you want to achieve anything, the most important thing is to take action.

Too many undertakings never get accomplished because of a lack of follow-through—so “get off your behind” already!

Literal translation: “Starting is easy, persistence is an art.”

Starting something is much easier than seeing it through to the end. Haven’t we all had the experience of being full of enthusiasm at the beginning of a new venture only to have it fizzle out as time progressed?

Keeping up your motivation is an art form in itself, and one that needs to be cultivated.

Literal translation: “Failure makes smart.”

Many of us live in cultures that are deeply averse to failure. Nobody likes to screw up or fall on their face, but failure is actually a necessary part of learning.

Without making mistakes, you will never understand how to do things properly. To quote Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again, fail again, fail better.”

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

This saying is a reminder to invest into quality. While the first impulse is often to go for the cheapest option, it’s usually worth it to spend a little more.

Whether on study material, tutors, or services, spending a little more for higher quality almost always pays off in the long run.

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

In life, it is important to see the big picture. If we only concentrate on the latest wins or failures instead of seeing our lives as a whole, we are vulnerable to fate’s whims and get frustrated easily.

So don’t give up on German just because you had a bad vocabulary day. You can pick it up again tomorrow.

Literal translation: “First think, then act.”

Although taking action is important, it is of equal importance to take the right action. Determining which one that is requires some deliberate thinking.

This proverb reminds us to set the right priorities and make decisions about what we want instead of blindly rushing into battle.

Literal translation: “Make haste with leisure.”

While it is important to work hard toward your goals and not be idle ( Wer rastet, der rostet, remember?), you also have to make time to smell the proverbial roses along the way.

If we are too focused on the outcome and the end result, it is easy to miss out on all the fun getting there.

Literal translation: “Don’t worry about eggs that haven’t been laid yet.”

This one is a little bit like “don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

While the English version asks us not to rely on means which we do not possess at this time, the German equivalent expresses the futility of worrying about things that haven’t come to pass yet and never might. That energy that can be spent much more productively.

Literal translation: “Crooked logs also make straight fires.”

The perfect is the enemy of the good. A lot of people wait for the elusive “perfect moment” when the stars align and everything falls into place.

But life doesn’t work like that. This saying tells us to work with what we have available, not what we would like to have. To quote Theodore Roosevelt: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

Literal translation: “You have to take things the way they come.”

In the same line of thought, life will seldom play out exactly the way we plan. It’s important to cultivate an adaptive mindset and deal with your current surroundings and conditions instead of wishing for things to be different.

So take life as it is, not as it should be.

Literal translation: “The morning hour has gold in its mouth.”

This might be the most weird-sounding translation on the list (which German is prone to—just look at this list of German vocabulary with surprising meanings ).

It is one of the ways Germans stress the importance of getting up early to get a head start on the day. Many inventors and creators of our time have been early risers who have used the first hours of the day as their most productive period. Highly recommended.

Literal translation: “Yourself is the man./Yourself is the woman.”

This saying is hard to translate literally. Its English equivalent is “Self do, self have.” Oftentimes we will use waiting for others as an excuse to not take action.

The proverb says that if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. While the original is the male version, Selbst ist die Frau is also widely used today.

15 . Taten sagen mehr als Worte.

Literal translation: “Actions say more than words.”

In German, actions don’t speak louder than words—they are just more verbose. Of course, the meaning of this is to talk less and do more.

A lot of people want to do great things and like to talk about their plans but lack follow-through. Let your actions speak instead of your voice.

16 . Übung macht den Meister.

Literal translation: “Practice is what makes a master.”

Mastery is hard to attain. It takes continuous honing of your skills to get really good at something. Be prepared to put in the time!

Whether it’s business savvy, physical skills or language proficiency, there are no shortcuts.

Literal translation: “He who chases two rabbits at once will catch none.”

This is the German way of telling you to stop multitasking. Be focused. Concentrate on one thing at a time and then move on to the next.

Well done, grasshopper. (By the way, does anybody else think words like these should really be spoken by a wise kung fu master?)

18 . Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen.

Literal translation: “He who says A also has to say B.”

No, this is not the slowest way to learn the alphabet. Instead, it means that if you commit to something, you should commit to it all the way. Don’t half-ass things or cherry pick.

The saying refers to people with the attitude of Wasch mir den Pelz aber mach mich nicht nass (wash my fur but don’t get me wet), meaning that they want something to happen but are unwilling to make the sacrifices required for it.

19 . Wenn der Reiter nichts taugt, ist das Pferd schuld.

Literal translation: “If the rider is no good, it’s the horse’s fault.”

When we attempt something and fail, we sometimes want to shift the blame away from ourselves. It’s more comforting to imagine that external factors and circumstances caused the outcome.

The German proverb reminds us to take responsibility instead. Germans have many more funny expressions that involve animals, so check them out! 

20 . Der Hunger kommt beim Essen.

Literal translation: “Appetite emerges while eating.”

If motivation runs low, one of the hardest things to do is to get started. Yes, we want to learn German. Yes, we committed to this time for our studying session. But we just don’t feel like it.

Start by studying a little bit, even for just a minute. More often than not, you will find that after working for a while and easing into the process, it actually becomes fun and easier to continue.

Literal translation: “Work is work and liquor is liquor.”

Even if we are doing work that we enjoy, it isn’t always all puppies and rainbows. Sometimes, it’s just work and you just have to get through it—but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

It is also a reminder to schedule periods of recovery. Just don’t overdo it with the Schnapps or you won’t feel too recovered afterward.

Literal translation: “Quickly ripened doesn’t hold stiff.”

The best English equivalent, though, is “early ripe, early rotten.”

This expression is often applied to children , as it’s thought that someone with many talents early on in their childhood won’t hold onto them for long as they grow up.

Literal translation: “Only the strong come into the garden.”

It basically means only the strongest survive—who knows what exactly is going on in the garden, but it seems you have to be tough to make it!

24. Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei.  

Literal translation: “Everything has an end, only the sausage has two.”

Did you know that German has a lot of proverbs and sayings that revolve around sausages? It’s true! The Germans love a good wurst (sausage)  so much that they can’t help but write proverbs about them.

This one is easy to understand as it’s quite literal—everything has an end, no matter how long something takes. However, that’s not the case for the good old sausage!

Literal translation: “Small animals also produce dung.”

That might not paint such a pretty picture, but it does have a meaningful message behind it: small amounts always add up to something bigger.

So, don’t give up on your German studies, even if it feels like you’re inching along! As this piece of German wisdom indicates, it’s a good idea to keep working on something even if you only do it bit by bit.

Literal translation: “Life isn’t a pony farm.”

It basically means that you can’t live like a pony at a pony farm and have your every whim taken care of for you.

In other words, you can’t always get what you want!

Literal translation: “Children and drunks always tell the truth.”

In English we might say something similar: “children and fools tell the truth.”

This phrase can be used to describe certain groups of people who are much more likely to be open and honest about a situation, for better or for worse. Children are the worst at keeping secrets and drunks are often a little loose-tongued, while the rest of us know how to lie when we want to.

Literal translation: “If you give the devil your little finger, he’ll take the whole hand.”

In English, we have the proverb “if you give an inch, they’ll take a mile.” Simply put, it means that people can take advantage of you if you let them.

Literal translation: “Close the lid, the monkey is dead.”

The English version doesn’t have such dark connotations, thankfully. We’d simply say, “let’s end this” or even “end of story.” And no monkey gets hurt in the process!

Literal translation: “What I don’t know doesn’t make me hot.”

You can think about this one in terms of the English phrase “hot and bothered,” relating to frustration or being flustered. We’ve all heard people say “what you don’t know can’t hurt you,” which is how we’d usually translate this expression.

Literal translation: “What little Hans doesn’t learn, adult Hans will never know.”

It’s basically our version of “you can’t teach an old dogs new tricks,” but with humans!

You should take particular note of the word  H änschen  (little Hans) in this sentence. It’s in the diminutive form , which is often used for children’s names.

Literal translation: “Don’t poke around in the beehive.”

This equates to another one of our dog-themed proverbs in English. We’d say, “let sleeping dogs lie.”

You don’t want to bother the bees or the sleeping dogs. Who knows what they’ll do if you disturb them!

Literal translation: “Where the foxes say good night.”

The British idiom for a highly remote place, “the back of beyond,” would be an equivalent for this quote. Seen any foxes out there lately?

Literal translation: “A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon on the roof.”

You’ll have certainly heard the English proverb, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” The Germans just specify which birds they’re talking about in their quote.

Literal translation: “Work is the best jacket.” 

The English version of the wise saying, “the best way to warm yourself up is by doing something useful.”

This list of proverbs should help prepare you to hear some unusual phrases in everyday German so you’ll know when not to take a sentence literally. It’s also a good starting point for anyone who wants to learn more phrases to use at parties or memorize romantic phrases to impress a German-speaking crush.

If you want to review proverbs and other interesting sayings, use an online dictionary like WordReference . Sayings can differ by dialect and change over time, so you can get some useful info from German speakers in WordReference’s comment sections.

If you want to understand these proverbs more deeply, you can seek out examples of them in German videos and other media. This will help give you a sense of how native speakers use proverbs and various turns of phrases in their casual speech.

One resource for such content is FluentU .

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

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The videos all have interactive subtitles that let you read along in German (or English) and look up words and phrases for contextual translations and usage examples.

With all of these insightful saying and resources to even find more, you’re well on your way to impressing native German speakers with your knowledge.

More importantly, you can avoid being confused by sayings that sound nonsensical if you take them literally.

Want to know the key to learning German effectively?

It's using the right content and tools, like FluentU has to offer ! Browse hundreds of videos, take endless quizzes and master the German language faster than you've ever imagine!

Watching a fun video, but having trouble understanding it? FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive subtitles.

You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don't know, you can add it to a vocabulary list.

And FluentU isn't just for watching videos. It's a complete platform for learning. It's designed to effectively teach you all the vocabulary from any video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

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Liz Cheney: The Supreme Court Should Rule Swiftly on Trump’s Immunity Claim

By Liz Cheney

Ms. Cheney, a Republican, is a former U.S. representative from Wyoming and was vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 select committee in the House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Donald Trump’s arguments that he is immune from prosecution for his efforts to steal the 2020 presidential election. It is likely that all — or nearly all — of the justices will agree that a former president who attempted to seize power and remain in office illegally can be prosecuted. I suspect that some justices may also wish to clarify whether doctrines of presidential immunity might apply in other contexts — for example, to a president’s actions as commander in chief during a time of war. But the justices should also recognize the profoundly negative impact they may have if the court does not resolve these issues quickly and decisively.

If delay prevents this Trump case from being tried this year, the public may never hear critical and historic evidence developed before the grand jury, and our system may never hold the man most responsible for Jan. 6 to account.

The Jan. 6 House select committee’s hearings and final report in 2022 relied on testimony given by dozens of Republicans — including many who worked closely with Mr. Trump in the White House, in his Justice Department and on his 2020 presidential campaign. The special counsel Jack Smith’s election-related indictment of Mr. Trump relies on many of the same firsthand witnesses. Although the special counsel reached a number of the same conclusions as the select committee, the indictment is predicated on a separate and independent investigation. Evidence was developed and presented to a grand jury sitting in Washington, D.C.

The indictment and public reporting suggest that the special counsel was able to obtain key evidence our committee did not have. For example, it appears that the grand jury received evidence from witnesses such as Mark Meadows, a former Trump chief of staff, and Dan Scavino, a former Trump aide, both of whom refused to testify in our investigation. Public reporting also suggests that members of Mr. Trump’s Office of White House Counsel and other White House aides testified in full, without any limitations based on executive privilege, as did Vice President Mike Pence and his counsel.

The special counsel’s indictment lays out Mr. Trump’s detailed plan to overturn the 2020 election, including the corrupt use of fraudulent slates of electors in several states. According to the indictment, senior advisers in the White House, Justice Department and elsewhere repeatedly warned that Mr. Trump’s claims of election fraud were false and that his plans for Jan. 6 were illegal. Mr. Trump chose to ignore those warnings. (Remember what the White House lawyer Eric Herschmann told Mr. Trump’s alleged co-conspirator John Eastman on Jan. 7, 2021: “Get a great f’ing criminal defense lawyer. You’re gonna need it.”) There is little doubt that Mr. Trump’s closest advisers also gave the federal grand jury minute-to-minute accounts of his malicious conduct on Jan. 6, describing how they repeatedly begged the president to instruct the violent rioters to leave our Capitol and how Mr. Trump refused for several hours to do so as he watched the attack on television. This historic testimony about a former president’s conduct is likely to remain secret until the special counsel presents his case at trial.

As a criminal defendant, Mr. Trump has long had access to federal grand jury material relating to his Jan. 6 indictment and to all the testimony obtained by our select committee. He knows what all these witnesses have said under oath and understands the risks he faces at trial. That’s why he is doing everything possible to try to delay his Jan. 6 federal criminal trial until after the November election. If the trial is delayed past this fall and Mr. Trump wins re-election, he will surely fire the special counsel, order his Justice Department to drop all Jan. 6 cases and try to prevent key grand jury testimony from ever seeing the light of day.

I know how Mr. Trump’s delay tactics work. Our committee had to spend months litigating his privilege claims (in Trump v. Thompson) before we could gain access to White House records. Court records and public reporting suggest that the special counsel also invested considerable time defeating Mr. Trump’s claims of executive privilege, which were aimed at preventing key evidence from reaching the grand jury. All of this evidence should be presented in open court, so that the public can fully assess what Mr. Trump did on Jan. 6 and what a man capable of that type of depravity could do if again handed the awesome power of the presidency.

Early this year, a federal appeals court took less than a month after oral argument to issue its lengthy opinion on immunity. History shows that the Supreme Court can act just as quickly , when necessary. And the court should fashion its decision in a way that does not lead to further time-consuming appeals on presidential immunity. It cannot be that a president of the United States can attempt to steal an election and seize power but our justice system is incapable of bringing him to trial before the next election four years later.

Mr. Trump believes he can threaten and intimidate judges and their families , assert baseless legal defenses and thereby avoid accountability altogether. Through this conduct, he seeks to break our institutions. If Mr. Trump’s tactics prevent his Jan. 6 trial from proceeding in the ordinary course, he will also have succeeded in concealing critical evidence from the American people — evidence demonstrating his disregard for the rule of law, his cruelty on Jan. 6 and the deep flaws in character that make him unfit to serve as president. The Supreme Court should understand this reality and conclude without delay that no immunity applies here.

Liz Cheney, a Republican, is a former U.S. representative from Wyoming and was vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 select committee in the House of Representatives.

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