This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
TLCK
Radlöseerkennung

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Da wächst die Seele, in konzentrischen Kreisen, göttlichen Sphären zu

English translation:

The soul spirals upward(s), soaring to the realm of gods

Added to glossary by Ramey Rieger (X)
Sep 19, 2017 12:10
6 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Da wächst die Seele, in konzentrischen Kreisen, göttlichen Sphären zu

German to English Art/Literary Philosophy Quotations
This is part of a longer quotation attributed to Ernst von Feuchtersleben: (Austrian physician, poet and philosopher)
Bis ins späteste Alter lernen -nicht auswendig, sondern inwendig-, das ist Genießen, das ist Leben. Da wächst die Seele, in konzentrischen Kreisen, göttlichen Sphären zu

Basically just introducing the benefits of lifelong learning. Struggling to understand the second part of the quote, especially the bit about concentric circles. Something about learning being good for the soul/divine beauty in learning, but how to express it? Can anyone make sense of this?
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 The soul spirals upward(s), soaring to the realm of gods
4 It expands the soul in concentric circles toward the divine.
3 The soul rises in concentric circles towards the divine
3 To do so is to feed the soul.
Change log

Sep 24, 2017 11:40: Ramey Rieger (X) Created KOG entry

Discussion

franglish Sep 19, 2017:
@Patricia Hmmm. I doubt that many learners aspire to quite such depth or heights! A bit overdone for a training manual... Training for what?
Patricia Will (asker) Sep 19, 2017:
Thanks Franglish it's all terribly philosophical for a training manual!
Patricia Will (asker) Sep 19, 2017:
That is the whole text - I just have a series of quotations about the value of lifelong learning as an introduction to a training manual. Feeding the soul is good!
franglish Sep 19, 2017:
@Patricia The author refers to two kinds of learning: learning by heart or memory, an intellectual exercise; and learning by integrating acquired knowledge into one's very being. And when one does this, "the soul grows in concentric circles toward divine spheres/regions". One could say it provides one with mystical insights.
Herbmione Granger Sep 19, 2017:
sentence Hi Patricia, Could you provide the rest of the sentence? So far, I think a literal translation would be fine. It seems he is elaborating on what he means by "lernen... inwendig" using a diagram. Basically, gaining substance rather than dimension. "Growing inwardly" is the cliche way of putting it. Maybe "feeding the soul" is also in there :) // Update/Note: Despite how it appears, I hadn't seen Ramey's answer when I wrote this, so my usage of "dimension" (as in volume/extension in space, as opposed to mass) is not a response to her explanation.

Proposed translations

+1
27 mins
Selected

The soul spirals upward(s), soaring to the realm of gods

Concentric circles, the ever-widening symbol of breadth, depth and growth - expanding consciousness is the essence of what he's depicting.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2017-09-19 12:39:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

realm, kingdom, domain
The soul wheels/circles upwards

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 48 mins (2017-09-19 12:59:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, very nice! The soul expands in concentric circles, soaring up to encounter the divine/to the realm of the gods
Note from asker:
Thank you that is certainly something I can work with - soaring to the realm of the divine perhaps
Peer comment(s):
agree BrigitteHilgner : Let's hope the soul doesn't get dizzy! ;-) // Dizzy translators - a dangerous breed: https://www.boredpanda.com/translation-fails/
25 mins
Hmm, quite possible, especially when the brain gets in the way. Happy translating Brigitte!//BRILLIANT! Thanks for the laughs!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks. Have actually suggested to customer that this is far too complicated for the context and that they should probably just use the first part of the quotation."
1 hr

It expands the soul in concentric circles toward the divine.

It expands the soul ... / It helps the soul expand ... / It helps the soul grow ...

... in concentric circles toward the divine. / ... in concentric circles, approaching the divine.


Peer comment(s):
neutral Ramey Rieger (X) : Hi ntext - pretty much exactly what I suggested - did you oversee it?
1 hr
Something went wrong...
2 days 6 hrs

The soul rises in concentric circles towards the divine

'Rise' seems like a more idiomatic fit in English than 'expand' or similar options. Also, "Da" is definitely not "it":)

https://books.google.com/books?id=3YgZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA88&lpg=P...
Something went wrong...
1 day 20 hrs

To do so is to feed the soul.

Zur Diätetik der Seele - von Feuchtersleben:
https://archive.org/stream/zurditetikdersee00feuc#page/68/mo...
S60 Das wichtigste Resultat aller Bildung ist die Selbsterkenntnis. Jedem Menschen ist von der Gottheit ein bestimmtes Maß zugeordnet, - ein bestimmtes [Behältnis] der Kräfte, welche sich in einem abgegrenzten Kreise bewegen. Dieses Maß, nicht überschritten und nicht lückenhaft, bestimmt die Integrität, die Gesundheit des Individuums...
S62 Hat der Gebildete den Kranz der Selbst-Erkenntnis errungen, so geschah dies nur, indem er sich als Teil eines Ganzen fassen lernte und mit andern Teilen desselben Ganzen zusammenhielt. Ja, man kann sagen, daß mit diesem Begriffe, sobald er lebendig wird, eigentlich die wahrhaft menschliche Bildung anfängt, und mit ihr auch ein zufriedener, geistig-lieblicher Zustand.

Since your quote is meant to be a motivational bit, it may be wise to focus on the first sentence, about learning, and collapse this sentence into one thought. I'm not sure that the concentric sphere visual will resonate with everyone. From what I've gleaned, Feuchtersleben's "Seele" is very much like that of St. Thomas Aquinas, who fused Aristotle's "anima" with the Christian soul. The celestial spheres are also Aristotelian/Thomistic.

"On the Heavens" (Aristotle) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Heavens

"Reading the Summa: Question 75 – The Essence of the Human Soul" (Aquinas)
http://readingthesumma.blogspot.de/2013/08/question-75-essen...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days20 hrs (2017-09-22 08:57:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"To do so is to nourish the soul" or something similar I think will be acceptable to the physician/psychologist/writer. Perhaps feed it some "Chicken Soup": http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/story-guideline...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days21 hrs (2017-09-22 09:27:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That's a good strategy. I was mainly worried about this quote being taken out of context and interpreted likewise.
Note from asker:
Yes I have actually suggested to customer that they should probably just use the first part of the quotation as the second part is far too complicated and philosophical as the introduction to a training manual that is simply about coaching communication skills in the workplace
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search