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     Literature Goethe: Faust V. Some verses

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Exercise: Goethe, Faust

  V. Some verses


25) ... Ich sag es dir: ein Kerl der spekuliert ...

  MEPHISTOPHELES:   MEPHISTOPHELES
Ich sag es dir: ein Kerl, der spekuliert,
Ist wie ein Tier, auf dürrer Heide
Von einem bösen Geist im Kreis herum geführt,
Und rings umher liegt schöne grüne Weide.
A chap who speculates - let this be said-
Is very like a beast on moorland dry,
That by some evil spirit round and round is led,
While fair, green pastures round about him lie.
     

We have here one of the descriptions that describe a state of mind, this time of Mephistopheles. Sometimes we might get lost in senseless speculations that do not bring us anywhere. Often we have to try to realise projects that exist and not speculate about what could be. In shorter words the Rolling Stones say:

You can't allways get what you want
but you can try sometimes, to get what you need.

Sometimes it does not help to think; sometimes one has to do something, with strength and does not let others make him give up. Man does not have a way; he makes his way by going upon it.
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