Build your life around what you must do.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
dann bauen Sie Ihr Leben nach dieser Notwendigkeit
Build your life around what you must do.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
What it means
Once you know your calling, Rilke says, let it shape even your smallest hours. Every part of the day becomes a sign of it. Arrange your life around what you cannot live without.
The source
"Build your life around what you must do." Rainer Maria Rilke said it in Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903). Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.
"dann bauen Sie Ihr Leben nach dieser Notwendigkeit"Original German, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903). Text read at mybook.ru.
Who said it
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926). Poet born in Prague who wrote in German. Letters to a Young Poet (1929) collects ten letters he sent to a young cadet who asked if his poems were any good.
Questions
- What does "Build your life around what you must do." mean?
- Once you know your calling, Rilke says, let it shape even your smallest hours. Every part of the day becomes a sign of it. Arrange your life around what you cannot live without.
- Who said "Build your life around what you must do."?
- Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926). Source: Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903).
- What is the original German?
- dann bauen Sie Ihr Leben nach dieser Notwendigkeit. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Build your life around what you must do." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"Build your life around what you must do." (Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/build-your-life-around-what-you-must-do
Filed under Quotes about discipline and grit.
Wear it your way
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More from Rainer Maria Rilke
- Go into yourself.Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
- In your stillest hour, ask yourself: must I?Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
- Your days seem poor? Be poet enough to call up their riches.Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
- Seek the depth of things. Irony never goes down there.Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 2 (Viareggio, 5 April 1903)
- Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient.Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 3 (Viareggio, 23 April 1903)