by
Wilhelm Busch (1832 - 1908)
Die Selbstkritik hat viel für sich
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Die Selbstkritik hat viel für sich.
Gesetzt den Fall, ich tadle mich;
So hab' ich erstens den Gewinn,
Daß ich so hübsch bescheiden bin;
Zum zweiten denken sich die Leut,
Der Mann ist lauter Redlichkeit;
Auch schnapp' ich drittens diesen Bissen
Vorweg den andern Kritiküssen;
Und viertens hoff' ich außerdem
Auf Widerspruch, der mir genehm.
So kommt es denn zuletzt heraus,
Daß ich ein ganz famoses Haus.
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Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Walter A. Aue) , "To criticize yourself is smart", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 67
To criticize yourself is smart
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
To criticize yourself is smart.
Say, I would scold myself to start:
this brings me, first, the real gain
that I'm a very modest man;
for, second, who would not agree
that I am full of honesty;
besides, and third, I snatch the prey
away from what the critics say;
and, fourth, I hope the crowd presents
some forceful counterarguments.
So, in the end, my little rap
makes me the most admired chap!
Authorship:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2010-03-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 73