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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation by George MacDonald (1824 - 1905)

Du hast zwei Ohren und Einen Mund
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du hast zwei Ohren und Einen Mund;
Willst du's beklagen?
Gar vieles sollst du hören, und
Wenig d'raus sagen.

Du hast zwei Augen und Einen Mund;
Mach dir's zu eigen! 
Gar manches sollst du sehen, und 
Manches verschweigen.

Du hast zwei Hände und Einen Mund;
Lern' es ermessen! 
Zweie sind da zur Arbeit, und 
Einer zum Essen.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Drei Paare und Einer" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Eduard August Grell (1800 - 1886), "Drei Paare und Einer", op. 61 (Zehn dreistimmige Lieder für 2 Sopran und Alt) no. 7, published 1884 [ vocal trio for 2 sopranos and alto ], Berlin, Bahn [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Eduard August Grell (1800 - 1886), "Zwei Paare und Einer", op. 23 (Sechs Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 6, published 1843 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Eugen Hildach (1849 - 1924), "Drei Paare und Einer", op. 29 no. 3 [ voice and piano ], from Für die singende Kinderwelt. Eine Sammlung von 16 Liedern, no. 3, Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Petrus Augustus de Genestet) , "Drie paren en een"
  • ENG English (George MacDonald) , "Three pairs and one", appears in Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, first published 1897


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2013-08-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 57

Three pairs and one
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
You have two ears  --  and but one mouth:
Let this, friend, be a token  --
Much should be heard,
And not so much be spoken.

You have two eyes  --  and but one mouth:
That is an indication  --
Much must you see,
But little serves relation.

You have two hands  --  and but one mouth:
Receive the hint you meet with  --
For labour, two,
But only one to eat with.

Confirmed with George MacDonald, Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1897, p. 101.


Text Authorship:

  • by George MacDonald (1824 - 1905), "Three pairs and one", appears in Rampolli: Growths from a Long Planted Root. Being Translations, New and Old, Chiefly from the German, first published 1897 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Drei Paare und Einer"
    • Go to the text page.

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull

This text was added to the website: 2014-07-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

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