Piet Hein Quotes

The noble art of losing face
may some day save the human race
and turn into eternal merit
what weaker minds would call disgrace.

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Stomach-ache can be a curse;
heart-ache may be even worse;
so thank Heaven on your knees
if you've got but one of these.

SMALL THINGS
& GREAT

He that lets
the small things bind him
leaves the great
undone behind him.

ON PROBLEMS

Our choicest plans
have fallen through,
our airiest castles
tumbled over,
because of lines
we neatly drew
and later neatly
stumbled over.

We shall have to evolve problem-solvers galore — since each problem they solve creates ten problems more.

As eternity is reckoned there's a lifetime in a second.

MEETING THE EYE
You'll probably find
that it suits your book
to be a bit cleverer
than you look.
Observe that the easiest
method by far
is to look a bit stupider
than you are.

As Eternity has reckoned
There's a lifetime in a second

Foes of what's cooking see no worth behind it. Those that are looking for nothing — will find it.

Man is the animal that draws lines which he himself then stumbles over. In the whole pattern of civilization there have been two tendencies, one toward straight lines and rectangular patterns and one toward circular lines. There are reasons, mechanical and psychological, for both tendencies. Things made with straight lines fit well together and save space. And we can move easily — physically or mentally — around things made with round lines. But we are in a straitjacket, having to accept one or the other, when often some intermediate form would be better.

A bit beyond perception's reach
I sometimes believe I see
that life is two locked boxes
each containing the other’s key.

Somebody said that Reason was dead. Reason said: No, I think not so.

Co-existence or no existence.

PRESCRIPTION

A bit
of virtue
will never
hurt you.

A PSYCHOLOGICAL TIP

Whenever you're called on to make up your mind,
and you're hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No — not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you're passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you're hoping.