Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 3 (Viareggio, 23 April 1903)
Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 3 (Viareggio, 23 April 1903)
What it means
A tree does not force its sap; it stands calmly through spring storms. Rilke says ten years are nothing for real growth. Be patient and the summer comes.
The source
"Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient." Rainer Maria Rilke said it in Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 3 (Viareggio, 23 April 1903). Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.
"reifen wie der Baum, der seine Säfte nicht drängt und getrost in den Stürmen des Frühlings steht ohne die Angst, daß dahinter kein Sommer kommen könnte. Er kommt doch. Aber er kommt nur zu den Geduldigen"Original German, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 3 (Viareggio, 23 April 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 "Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient." mean?
- A tree does not force its sap; it stands calmly through spring storms. Rilke says ten years are nothing for real growth. Be patient and the summer comes.
- Who said "Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient."?
- Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926). Source: Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 3 (Viareggio, 23 April 1903).
- What is the original German?
- reifen wie der Baum, der seine Säfte nicht drängt und getrost in den Stürmen des Frühlings steht ohne die Angst, daß dahinter kein Sommer kommen könnte. Er kommt doch. Aber er kommt nur zu den Geduldigen. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient." 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
"Ripen like the tree. Summer comes, but only to the patient." (Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 3 (Viareggio, 23 April 1903), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/ripen-like-the-tree-summer-comes-but-only
Filed under Quotes about time.
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)
- 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)