"The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and
greater things."
- Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) is considered one of the German language's
greatest 20th century poets. He was born in Prague (then part of the
Austro-Hungarian empire) and studied in Prague, Munich and Berlin. His
works in German include Das Stundenbuch (The Book
of Hours), written after visiting Russia; Die Sonnette an Orpheus
(Sonnets to Orpheus) and Duineser Elegien (Duion Elegies). He also
wrote about 400 poems in French dedicated to Valais in Switzerland, his homeland
of choice, where he died of leukemia at just 51 years of age.
More quotes by Rilke
This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love: the more
they give, the more they possess.
The only journey is the one within.
Love is like the measles. The older you get it, the worse the attack.
I hold this to be the highest task for a bond between two people: that each
protects the solitude of the other.
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