The Difficult Union.

Why are taste and genius so seldom met with united?
Taste of strength is afraid, genius despises the rein.

Friedrich Schiller

Friedrich Schiller was a renowned German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. Born on November 10, 1759, in Marbach am Neckar, and passing away on May 9, 1805, in Weimar, Schiller is considered one of the most important figures in German literature. His works, including 'Ode to Joy' and 'William Tell', have left a lasting impact on Western literature and thought.

Friedrich Schiller

The Metaphysician.

Friedrich Schiller, Simple Poetry

Votive Tablets.

Friedrich Schiller, Simple Poetry

The Epic Hexameter.

Friedrich Schiller, Simple Poetry

The Proverbs Of Confucius.

Friedrich Schiller, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Goodness And Greatness.

Only two virtues exist. Oh, would they were ever united!
Ever the good with the great, ever the great with the good!

Friedrich Schiller

The Connecting Medium.

How does nature proceed to unite the high and the lowly
In mankind? She commands vanity 'tween them to stand!

Friedrich Schiller

The Learned Workman.

Ne'er does he taste the fruit of the tree that he raised with such trouble;
Nothing but taste e'er enjoys that which by learning is reared.

Friedrich Schiller

The Common Fate.

See how we hate, how we quarrel, how thought and how feeling divide us!
But thy locks, friend, like mine, meanwhile are bleachening fast.

Friedrich Schiller

Naturalists And Transcendental Philosophers.

Enmity be between ye! Your union too soon is cemented;
Ye will but learn to know truth when ye divide in the search.

Friedrich Schiller

The Philosophers.

The principle by which each thing
Toward strength and shape first tended,
The pulley whereon Zeus the ring
Of earth, that loosely used to swing,
With cautiousness suspended,
he is a clever man, I vow,
Who its real name can tell me now,
Unless to help him I consent
'Tis: ten and twelve are different!

Fire burns, 'tis chilly when it snows,
Man always is two-footed,
The sun across the heavens goes,
This, he who naught of logic knows
Finds to his reason suited.
Yet he who metaphysics learns,
Knows that naught freezes when it burns
Knows that what's wet is never dry,
And that what's bright attracts the eye.

Old Homer sings his noble lays,
The hero goes through dangers;
The brave man duty's call obeys,
And did so, even in the day...

Friedrich Schiller