Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
Gehen Sie in sich.
Go into yourself.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
What it means
A young poet asked Rilke if his poems were good. Rilke said no one could tell him and sent him inward instead. The answers that matter are found inside, not in other people's approval.
The source
"Go into yourself." 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.
"Niemand kann Ihnen raten und helfen, niemand. Es gibt nur ein einziges Mittel. Gehen Sie in sich."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 "Go into yourself." mean?
- A young poet asked Rilke if his poems were good. Rilke said no one could tell him and sent him inward instead. The answers that matter are found inside, not in other people's approval.
- Who said "Go into yourself."?
- Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926). Source: Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903).
- What is the original German?
- Niemand kann Ihnen raten und helfen, niemand. Es gibt nur ein einziges Mittel. Gehen Sie in sich. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Go into yourself." 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
"Go into yourself." (Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/go-into-yourself
Filed under Self.
Wear it your way
The same line in every look it fits. Each one is printed to order on heavy cotton, same price.
More from Rainer Maria Rilke
- In your stillest hour, ask yourself: must I?Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 1 (Paris, 17 February 1903)
- Build your life around what you must do.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)